I wanted to reply to the header of "any similar case."
Ryan was born 28 July 1996. At 12.5 months (6 Aug 97), we elected to =
give him the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax).=20
My wife found him unable to stand when he awoke the morning of 12 Aug =
97. His diaper was almost completely dry. She noted significant changes =
in his coordination. She took him to his pediatrician and he had X-rays =
of both legs and his abdomen. They were normal. He was sent to the =
hospital for admission.
Soon after arrival around noon, Ryan started to cry in pain and Robin =
noted a mottled appearance of his legs which by now were flaccid. As we =
both work in the health profession, we know everyone in our hospital. =
Robin had the pediatric intensivist summoned to the bedside and Ryan was =
immediately transferred to the Pediatric ICU. My sister called me at =
work and said, "Come - come NOW!" I arrived in PICU as testing was about =
to begin. Initially, Dr. Orlowski suspected that Ryan had a clot in the =
inferior vena cava - a potentially fatal problem. Ultrasound ruled that =
possibility out. I catheterized Ryan because of his inability to void =
and later inserted an NG tube to decompress his stomach. He was sedated =
for MRI's of his thoracic and lumbar spine. While in MRI, I cathed him =
again for 200-300 cc's of urine and we saw the mottling of his legs =
mostly resolve. He returned to his room at 11:30 pm. At midnight, a =
spinal tap was performed. Throughout the day, Ryan had been evaluated by =
a neurologist, a vascular surgeon, a dermatologist, and a number of =
pediatricians. His suspected diagnosis was Guillian-Barre Syndrome =
secondary to the vaccination. Ryan had spent the entire day flat on his =
back with his legs elevated. His legs had been virtually flaccid and he =
had made no attempt to move them spontaneously. Though he appeared to =
have some pain in his legs when examined or manipulated, he was mostly =
quiet and smiling with his Mom & Dad.
At 2:30 am on 13 Aug, Ryan awoke from the sedation, pulled at his NG =
tube and rolled slightly to his side. This was a major change. The NG =
tube was removed and we helped him into a sitting position - something =
he had been unable to do all day. Ryan sat like an infant might the =
first time he tries; with his legs sprawled far to the sides and without =
any balance at all. After 14 and a half hours he began to improve =
spontaneously!
Ryan continued to improve over the next few days, but his doctors were =
unable to confirm a diagnosis. Late Friday evening - day four - he was =
evaluated by another neurologist. Dr. Fernandez felt virtually certain =
that Ryan did not have Guillian-Barre, but acute transverse myelitis. =
His physical exam and history supported this, but it couldn't be proved =
by MRI. On Saturday he transferred out of PICU. He still couldn't pee so =
a Foley catheter was left in place.
On Sunday the catheter came out. With a lot of help from Daddy, Ryan =
could pee on his own. By now he could drag himself around his crib and =
try to stand - but only for a second or two. By Monday, 18 August, Ryan =
could occasionally stand for about 30 seconds. Having made remarkable =
improvement, he was discharged.
Ryan continued to improve but had a lot of residual weakness of his left =
leg and hip and poor coordination. The leg was spastic and we performed =
range of motion (ROM) exercises three times a day. He could crawl a =
little; mostly he dragged his leg behind him. He couldn't stand without =
help.
Today, Ryan still has weakness of his left leg and ankle and his =
coordination is not back to what it was. He continues to be followed by =
Dr. Fernandez. A few days ago, the majority of the spasticity faded and =
he has begun to use his walker. He stands all the time and will walk if =
he's holding onto something or someone. His improvement has been =
remarkable! Although he's still not back to where he was, he's seems to =
be getting there. As far as we've been able to determine, there is not a =
known case of TM in a child younger than Ryan, but we're looking. =
Neither the FDA nor the CDC knew of anything, although the CDC did =
contact the pharmaceutical company who now reports that there have been =
two previous cases of TM following vaccination with their product. They =
never reported it to anyone and don't list it as a potential problem in =
the product literature.
No one can tell us for certain if Ryan will ever be without a =
disability. I guess only time will tell...