Baby with acute Transverse Myelitis

[Philip-Garner]

  My 14 month old daughter was diagnosed with ATM when she was 4 mos. old
  She has continued to improve as far as muscle strength but she does not seem to have feeling in her legs at times. Is this normal.
  What should I expect. Have you heard of a case this young.

  
                                 Thanks,
                              Philip Garner

[CCF Neurology M.D./DFG]

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Dear Mr. Garner:
The initial inflammatory lesion in your daughters spinal cord caused weakness, implying involvement of the descending motor fibers from the brain (the corticospinal tract). It would not be unusual to also involve
the ascending spinothalamic fibers due to their proximity to the motor tracts (these are the fibers which transmit sensory inputs from the skin
to the brain for interpretation/processing). Your daughter may have experienced abnormal sensory symptoms early on, but was too young to aknowledge them. However, your letter implies that the sensory symptoms may be waxing and waning now, which indicates the original lesion may still be active. My advice is to inform your physician about this and any other subsequent changes in sensory and motor function immediately.If
treatment is felt to be medically indicated, sooner is better than later.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.