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Acute cerebellar ataxia

Definition:

Acute cerebellar ataxia is sudden onset of uncoordinated muscle movement .

Alternative Names:

Cerebellar ataxia; Ataxia - acute cerebellar; Cerebellitis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Acute cerebellar ataxia is most common in children, especially those younger than 3 years old. It often occurs several weeks after a viral illness. Viral infections that may cause this include chickenpox , Coxsackie disease, Epstein-Barr, and mycoplasma pneumonia . Exposure to older insecticides called organophosphates may also cause ataxia.

References:

Eicher T. Toxic encephalopathies. Neurol Clin . May 2005; 23(2): 353-76.

Cohen J, Powderly WG. Infectious Diseases . 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2004:309.

Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2003:147-148, 296-297.

Review Date: 10/31/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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