Myasthenia gravis can occur in children but its diagnosis may be delayed since it may not be suspected.
Conditions that may be associated with pediatric myasthenia:
(1) thymoma
(2) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
(3) polymyositis
(4) other autoimmune disease
A patient may present with ocular myasthenia with:
(1) ptosis (blepharoptosis)
(2) ophthalmoplegia
(3) strabismus
The patient may also have systemic signs with:
(1) dysarthria, dysphagia or other bulbar signs
(2) skeletal muscle weakness
Myasthenia should be considered in a pediatric patient who presents with unexplained weakness with a need for mechanical ventilation.
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Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology
