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Ataxia in children is an uncommon but important sign as it is associated with
only certain disorders. Like many conditions in pediatric neurology, most are
rare. Below is a list of some of the more common pediatric disorders associated
with ataxia. |
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Acute Ataxia
• Drug Ingestion
• Acute cerebellar
ataxia (post-infectious cerebellitis; may follow chicken-pox, other infections
or vaccinations)
• Miller-Fisher Variant of GBS |
Acute/Subacute ataxia with prolonged or intermittent
course
• Myoclonic
Encephalopathy (Dancing eye syndrome, often associated with Neuroblastoma)
• Brain Tumors
(hemorrhage)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Metabolic disorders |
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Chronic ataxia
• Brain Tumors (usually
infratentorial)
Cerebellar astrocytoma
Ependymoma of 4th ventricle
Medulloblastoma
Cerebellar Hemangioblastoma
• Head Trauma
• Cerebral
Palsy
• Genetic
Friedrich's ataxia
Ataxia telangiectasia
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA)
Abetalipoproteinemia
Refsum’s disease
Hartnup’s disease
• Chronic drug
ingestion (e.g., anti-epileptics)
• Vitamin E Deficiency
• Congenital
malformations (usually associated w/ mental retardation) |
COMMON CAUSES OF ATAXIA IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS |
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Ataxia in children before 1 year of age
Congenital malformations
Mild arrested hydrocephalus
Cerebral Palsy |
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Ataxia in children between 1-5 years of age
Drug Ingestion
Post-infectious cerebellar ataxia
Myoclonic Encephalopathy and Neuroblastoma
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Brain tumors
Ataxia Telangiectasia
Refsum’s disease |
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Ataxia in Children between 5-10 years
Drug Ingestion
Post-infectious cerebellar ataxia
Brain tumors
Genetic [e.g., Friedreich’s Ataxia; other
spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs)] |
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Ataxia in children above 10 years of age
Genetic [e.g., Friedreich’s Ataxia; other
spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs)]
Multiple Sclerosis |
