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Acute cerebellar ataxia

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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

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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.

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