Mubarak Ali, Atta Ulah Mazhar, Abid Hameed Sh.
Acute Hypokalemic Flaccid Paralysis in malnourished children.
Pak Paed J Jan ;27(4):165-8.

Objectives:- To determine hypokalemia as a cause of acute flaccid paralysis. Design: A descriptive prospective study. Place and duration:- The study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur. The study period was two years, from January 2000 to December 2002. Subjects and methods:- All cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) which were preceded by diarrheal episode of variable duration and were having weight below 60% of the expected weight for age were included in the study. Others were excluded. Results: During the study period 71 cases of AFP were admitted, of which 12(16.5%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Acute generalized flaccid paralysis was present in all 12 cases while loss of neck holding was the most prominent clinical finding. All the patients documented hypokalemia ranging from 2.4 to 3.3 mEq/L. The ECG changes were present in all. The results of stool virology were negative in all the 12 cases. The age of the patients ranged from 11 months to 7 years. Conclusion: Hypokalemia is an important treatable but potentially lifethreatening condition which can lead to acute flaccid paralysis in children, particularly in malnourished children who usually present with a diarrheal episode of variable duration. If diagnosed in time and appropriately treated, the response and recovery is dramatic.

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