TRANSVERSE MYELITIS IN A CHILD WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME AND SCHISTOSOMAL COLITIS

This is a report of an 11-year-old Saudi child with Down's syndrome wh o presented with a 3-month history of diarrhoea, anal fissures and ble eding per rectum. The child was investigated in a local hospital and f ound to have evidence of colitis. He was referred to our hospital for further investigation and management. Six weeks prior to transfer, the child developed weakness of the lower limbs resulting in inability to walk. The child was found to have Schistosoma mansoni colitis complic ated by spinal cord involvement presenting as transverse myelitis. Two 1-day courses of therapy with praziquantel resulted in a satisfactory recovery, enabling the child to walk by himself.