Etiology of Acute Ataxia in Children: A Single Center Experience

Introduction: Acute ataxia often develops due to mild and selflimiting disorders, but can also result from serious life-threatening disorders. However, limited data are available on its etiology, especially in developing countries. In this study, it was aimed to determine the etiology in children presenting with acute ataxia.Methods: The charts of patients who presented with acute ataxia between September 2012 and September 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The final diagnosis, demographic, clinical, laboratory and imaging results of the patients were recorded.Results: A total of 97 patients were included in the study. Of the patients 56.7% (n=55) were male. The average age was 6.7 (+/- 4.2) years. By etiology, 58 (59.8%) of 97 patients were diagnosed with acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia and 14 (14.4%) acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Encephalitis, migraine, Miller Fisher syndrome, epilepsy, and trauma were found to be less common etiological causes, while psychogenic ataxia was found in six patients (6.2%). When compared to other patients, the age was younger, the history of pre-ataxia infection and drug use was higher, and the magnetic resonance imaging abnormality was less in patients with acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia.Conclusion: The most common cause of acute ataxia in children is acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia. Ataxia may also be the first sign of disorders with high mortality and morbidity such as encephalitis, ADEM, MS, Miller Fisher syndrome, trauma.