Brachial plexus neuropathy. Three cases in children
L. M. Charles Jr and A. Jayam-Trouth
Brachial plexus neuropathy is an acute neurologic disorder characterized by
pain, weakness, and atrophy of the muscle groups affected. Although well
documented in the adult literature, relatively few cases have been reported
in children. Despite the lack of knowledge concerning its etiology, and
lack of an effective therapy, the long-term prognosis is excellent. It is
perhaps for these reasons that spinal fluid analysis is not routinely
performed during the acute phase of this illness. An evaluation of the
clinical course of three children, together with epidemiologic data,
suggests that early lumbar punctures and an extensive search for an
infecting viral agent, notably coxsackievirus B, are warranted.
