J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2018 Jun;26(2):93-99. 10.26815/jkcns.2018.26.2.93.

Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings in Children Diagnosed with Benign Acute Childhood Myositis (BACM)

• Jeong JY
• Kang EK
• Kim DH
• Kim JH
• Na SY
• Lee JH
• Cho SM

• KMID: 2435243
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.26815/jkcns.2018.26.2.93

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to review the relationship between the clinical features and laboratory findings of patients suspected of benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) in children and adolescents with bilateral calf pain and gait disturbances.
METHODS
From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016, the clinical and laboratory findings of patients who visited Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital with the sudden onset fever and muscle pain were retrospectively examined.
RESULTS
The total number of patients was 29 (21 males and 8 females), and their mean age was 5.5 years. The mean duration of fever was 4.2 days. The mean duration from the onset of fever to show the symptom was 3.2 days. The mean recovery period from myositis was 2.4 days. The mean duration of hospitalization was 2.2 days. Fever and bilateral calf pain were the most common symptoms; however, cough, rhinorrhea, sore throat, headache, and abdominal pain were also observed. The causative agent of BACM was influenza B infection in 23 (79.3%) of the cases. Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), myoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) values were higher in the shorter duration of fever and were statistically significant. The following values were noted: CPK (r=−0.472), myoglobin (r=−0.472), AST (r=−0.443), and ALT (r=−0.459). The longer the pain period, the lower the white blood cell (WBC) count (r=−0.655).
CONCLUSION
BACM is mostly associated with the influenza B virus. Time to onset of symptoms after fever and WBC levels are related to muscle enzyme levels and duration of symptoms in BACM.

Keyword

Myositis; Influenza; Influenza B virus

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adolescent
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Child*
Cough
Creatinine
Fever
Gait
Headache
Hospitalization
Humans
Influenza B virus
Influenza, Human
Leukocytes
Male
Myalgia
Myoglobin
Myositis*
Pharyngitis
Retrospective Studies
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Creatinine
Myoglobin