BRACHIAL-PLEXUS NEUROPATHY FOLLOWING A PY OGENIC CERVICAL LYMPHADENITIS

Background. - Brachial plexopathy is rare in children; it may follow a non-specific respiratory infection or occur after a specific viral di sease or immunization. Case report. - An 8 year-old girl was admitted suffering from presuppurative acute cervical adenitis. She was given p enicillin V, netilmicin and corticosteroids. The adenitis gradually re solved over a period of ten days. There was no-evidence of a specific bacterial infection. The patient suffered from pain localized to her r ight shoulder 15 days after admission; this pain was resolved within 3 -4 days but was followed by paralysis affecting the upper brachial roo ts without sensory signs. EMG performed 15 days later showed signs of denervation. Amyotrophy set in rapidly but recovery under physiotherap y was complete 5 months later. Conclusion. - This plexopathy resemblin g the Parsonage-Turner syndrome could be allergic in pathogenesis alth ough similar cases after bacterial, possibly streptococcal, infection remain to be confirmed