Vomiting and Singultus As Presenting Signs and Symptoms of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in a 14-Year-Old Boy

Abstract

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare degenerative disorder of the central nervous system affecting mainly optic nerves and spinal cord. It often leads to devastating visual and motor disabilities with a 5-year mortality of 30%; so early recognition and treatment are important. Obligatory criteria for diagnosis are transverse myelitis and optic neuritis in the absence of defining criteria for multiple sclerosis and ADEM. Aquaporin-4-receptor antibody seropositivity is diagnostic as it has been detected exclusively in sera of patients with NMO and neuromyelitis spectrum disorders (NMOSD). In children, presentation may differ from adult onset NMO and is characterized by frequent brain involvement.