Thursday, July 03, 2008

Benign Acute Myositis

Have you ever heard of the condition above? Well, I never had either, until today.

Kelvin woke up this morning and told us that he could not walk because his legs hurt. After having to carry him to the bathroom and couch, and seeing him get around on all fours and only being able to stand for a few second on his toes, I decided to investigate with "Dr. Google's" help. I was feeling all apprehensive about these symptoms (muscle pain) being a consequence of Lyme disease, but after googling the correct combination of words (leg muscle pain in child "cannot walk" low fever), I got to this definition here:
Benign acute myositis
In benign acute myositis, a young child suddenly develops severe leg pain and cannot walk normally. These symptoms are dramatic and frightening, but they usually disappear within a few days. Benign acute myositis usually occurs in children who are recovering from the flu or some other respiratory infection caused by a virus. Doctors are not sure whether the child's muscle symptoms are caused by the virus itself or by the body's immune reaction to the virus.
So, there you go, this is what Kelvin has, I'm sure. I also found an academic article about it whose description further assured me of it.

The site mentioned above (which coincidentally seems to be sponsored by our health insurance company) also further describes the symptoms which match exactly Kelvin's situation right now:
A child suddenly has trouble walking and complains of severe leg pain. This pain is often worst in the calf muscles. In most cases, the child also has a history of recent fever, runny nose, sore throat and other upper respiratory symptoms.
The duration and treatment:
" Patients usually recover within three to seven days." "Your child's doctor will prescribe medication for pain. No other treatment is necessary, because the illness usually gets much better within a few days."

I don't think Kelvin needs medication for pain because he is not complaining of any pain, only when trying to walk, so I didn't even call the doctor, but maybe I should have because the site adds: "
Call your doctor immediately if: (. . .) Your child complains of severe leg pain and has trouble walking" -- too late, I only saw this now. Oh well, I think he's going to be fine in a few days like they say. In any case, I'll keep you posted.

No, my friends, life is NEVER, ever boring in our family! And I guess we're going to have a very low key holiday (we were planning to travel and stuff, but now we're only going to Maryland on Sunday for my youngest nephew's second birthday (he's the youngest for now -- our family is on "Nephew watch 2008" for the TENTH boy on my mother-in-law's life: one husband, four sons and four grandsons so far).

And, watch this space and the neglected photo blog. I am going to start posting house and house renovation photos ASAP! These will be part of my farewell of the house.

Oh, yesterday both boys went to the doctor (Linton coincidently had his yearly check-up) and, OF COURSE their fevers were GONE by the time the appointment came. The doctor examined them and said that they are fine (no throat, ear, lung problems) and that it was most certainly a virus. The bad thing is that both boys are still slightly feverish (101) today. I'm very annoyed at this awful virus!!

34 comments:

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Oh you poor things. You are really getting kicked by this virus thing, aren't you? I wish you all better soon!

Maggie said...

How is Kelvin?

This morning, my son Alex came down with apparently the same thing. He had some little sniffly cold-and-fever for a few days, and then after we thought it was gone, boom, he woke up this morning unable to make any motion that involved his legs-- including sitting up!

We spent the day in the emergency room, and got admitted to children's hospital. They later discharged us when he suddenly was able to walk and hop (he's still very clumsy though).

Now I'm sitting here watching him walk around... he still doesn't walk quite right.

His blood tests came back all normal-- except for the test indicating inflammation.

ArticulateDad said...

Wishing you all good health and soon.

Anonymous said...

Just came back from the doctor's with my 7y old son and was not accepting of her explanation of his leg pain until I google/searched his symptoms and came across your blog. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Reading your blog about Kelvin was almost like you had a camera in my house these past couple of days. Now I can feel sane.

The AZ Gearharts said...

So weird! I just had the same thing happen with my 6 year old and received the same diagnosis. I had never heard of such a thing before.

Anonymous said...

My Aunt led me to the blog today. I took my son in this morning for x-rays of his right hip and blood work (which all came back normal). He woke up yesterday morning complaining that his legs hurt and he couldn't walk. He is four and doesn't pin point his pain well. We took him to the doctor and after the exam and hospital visit we were told it has to be a sprain or pulled muscle and should be fine in a few days. He hasn't been sick and still has some tenderness in his hip area. Does anyone know if the hip is an area that could be affected by this condition or does it only affect the lower portion of the leg?

Anonymous said...

I am so glad I ran across your blog. I have been searching the internet trying to figure out what was wrong with my 5 year old. Of course, I see the most horrible diagnosis. Finally, this morning I ran across your blog and that has to be exactly what my Patirck has. He was diagnosed with the flu Thursday and Sunday he woke up and couldn't walk. He says his calves and top of thighs hurt, but only when he walks or when I try to massage them. This has got to be it. Again, thank you for your blog.

Anonymous said...

My son and daughter had these same symptoms and thanks to you it clears it all up. They had the flu a few days ago, makes sense and seems to fit the time line. I also read that this has been in conjuction with H1N1 so beware. I did not have my children tested for H1N1, they might have had it. My son is still having trouble walking and woke up screaming of pain last night. Weird, weird illness. Thanks to all for you postings

Anonymous said...

Hi there, my son had the first dose of the H1N1 vaccine last Wednesday, Friday evening developed fever, Saturday which was Halloween had super high fever chills/body aches on phone with nurse who told me it was a reaction to vaccine, but it is Wednesday now and fever left on Sunday, he has a cough/running nose sneezing and woke up yesterday complaining of leg pain, can't walk and this morning same thing. I would like to assume he this is the above sickness and just wanted to know, when this happened to your child did the legs seem to get better during the day? How long did it last for you? Responses would be super appreicated, H1N1 is super crazy in my city right now and I don't want to sit in the emergency with hundreds of sick people.

Lilian said...

I just wanted to get back to the last commenter. If I recall correctly, my son was better the next day although he still felt some pain in his legs. The whole thing with the not walking lasted a day, but maybe it could last longer, I don't know! (I'm sorry).

I think that maybe you should just wait until tomorrow and chances are he'll be walking by then since it does sound that what he has is benign acute myositis.

I'm glad I seem to be helping so many people with this simple post from last year!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this, as these symptoms are very scary! As a mom, I am just sick with worry! I work as a secretary at the school my son attends and the flu/h1n1 has hit alot of families. They won't swab to confirm unless you are life thretening, but I am assuming that this is it as my son has never been this ill with regular seasonal flu. Thanks for your blog, it does give me peace of mind. He does seem like himself in all other ways, eating, joking and playing the wii. Probably no hockey this weekend though.

Lilian said...

You're very welcome!

My son was OK in all other ways, though, except for the walking. And he had just had a virus the week before. Then, a few days after this problem with his leg he broke out in a weird rash, his whole body was covered with red dots (no itching, nothing) and I called the nurse in a panic, just to hear that it was the virus again...

Oh, and just a couple of weeks ago my son (the same of this post, he's 7.7 right now) had the worst flu ever (3 days in bed with fever not even lifting his head -- he'd feel dizzy) and when we went to a return visit to their allergist the doctor said that any flu now would be H1N1 because it's too early for the seasonal flu... so, yeah, it's this terrible new virus.

Leena said...

Hello, you can find some useful information about this virus and this condition which is termed benign acute childhood myositis on these links:

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/181/10/711

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g51225l639403233/fulltext.html

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/c/9339/9814.html

Hope you're kids will get better soon :)

eolesen said...

Guttate Psoriasis can cause a red rash similar to what you have described. It's common in you adults and kids and can flare up after bacterial or viral illness, or stress. I was diagnosed with this after I had strep throat ( which is common). It will clear on its own and i found treatment really didn't help (topical steroid cream). here is a link for more info: www.everydayhealth.com/psoriasis/understanding/types-of-psoriasis.aspx

Anonymous said...

Thank you! You've brought some (temporary - assuming it will go away) peace of mind to a worried and confused mum. Will just take my kid more seriously and hope that it will just disappear in a few days.

k said...

Thanks for the info. looks like my son has it too :(

Unknown said...

FYI--》When the body is fighting a virus, it first has to track the virus down. After it does this, it now has to start manufacturing the antivirus. This is mostly done in muscle tissue (the more the merrier). So it shuts down the muscle for movement and uses it for something else. Also, the whole body has the virus in it, so it will take a few days to anialate it. After the body sees that there is no sign of the virus or that it has weakened, then the body starts to reuse the muscle for movement.

Unknown said...

Thank you for this blog, I am a pharmacist from Philippines, my 6 year old son whonis also suffering frim colds 4 days ago then last night he complained aching behind his two affecting both legs
As of now he has no more fever
After giving ibuprofen he was able to walk again normally but Im afraid later it will come back

Unknown said...

Thank you for this blog, I am a pharmacist from Philippines, my 6 year old son whonis also suffering frim colds 4 days ago then last night he complained aching behind his two affecting both legs
As of now he has no more fever
After giving ibuprofen he was able to walk again normally but Im afraid later it will come back

Alex Neil said...

The description of symptoms of leg pain is greatly explained by web health network. It's a must read.

Unknown said...

My 10yr old daughter has strep throat x3 weeks,got a late diganosis @11 days if being sick. Now she has pain with walking,rolls feet when walks.blood tests show some inflamation.just worried still sick,and the walking is concerning...

Unknown said...

My 5 year old son just encountered this symtom. He just recovered from a few days of fever. He refused to take any antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. Lucky to come across information about this childhood myositis, saved us the trouble and sufferings of going through all sorts of medical checkups and I think will most probably turn up the same results. However, he still complain about having the pain at night. Hopefully he can start walking the next day.

Unknown said...

Thank you... my son woke up this morning having the same symptom.. it really freaked me out because he's usually jumping around all day... he's able to craw around and hop from sofa to sofa which tells me it may not be that serious. His doctor first told me that it was post viral fatuige which did not sound right... so I went to Dr. Google of course and came across this page... what should I look for and is it something that may happen every year.

L said...

I don't know if you'll see this Lakeesha, but the symptoms should go away soon and possibly he won't have this every year. My son did have it once more, I don't remember how long afterwards, but then never again.

Melf said...

Tx so much. So releaved after reading this. My girlfriends daughter had exactly this. Very nasty respiratory infection. I live in africa and everybody thought she'd been cursed. Especially once she was unable to walk. So happy i could give them the insights of ur website. Everybody calmed down. Tx a million

ADF said...

Wow! Very interesting! My 7 yr old daughter is just recovering from the flu AND strep...yes a double whammy. Well she woke up this morning (the 2nd day fever free) and told me her legs hurt (mainly her calves) and she could only walk on her tippy toes. I knew she couldn't have been sore because she's been in bed since Mon night (4 days), she didn't even go to gymnastics. So I gave her some Tylenol but she still couldn't walk right. So I googled her symptoms and this popped up! Makes me feel so much better!!! I told her she will have to wait it out and that it will go away...
FYI: she said the pain is like she's been doing gymnastics for a million days straight lol (her description not mine)

Unknown said...

So grateful to have found this site. My 7 year old son also woke up with pain in both legs . Had the flu and strep so yes i was really worried.Today was hes second day fever free and got worried when i saw he could barley walk.Thank you for the peace of mind of knowing this seems to be something that will pass by. Im so relieved!

Eleni said...

That is called transient/toxic synovitis my son has had it twice

Stonefam said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stonefam said...

Susana Juarez, how long did it last for your son?! I see your post is more recent and my son is going through the same exact thing! Doc said just arthritis from the strep and didn't do any tests. He definitely had strep but I believe the flu at the same time. I am a nervous wreck!

L said...

I don't know if Susana will see your comment, but I hope your son will feel better in a day or two -- it really shouldn't last more than that! I am glad my post from so many years ago seems to be helping so many people.

Stonefam said...

I figured there was a pretty slim chance :) Thank you for responding though! I didn't see if you had stated how long it lasted. It looks like your post has been an amazing help for so many! I don't know if I can take another day of the stress from worrying so I'm just praying he wakes up fine tomorrow :) Thanks again!

Stonefam said...

I figured there was a pretty slim chance :) Thank you for responding though! I didn't see if you had stated how long it lasted. It looks like your post has been an amazing help for so many! I don't know if I can take another day of the stress from worrying so I'm just praying he wakes up fine tomorrow :) Thanks again!

Unknown said...

I'm so glad I saw this I've been so worried. My daughter is just getting over the flue and now she's complaining of her calves and says she can't walk and when she stands it's on her toes. I'm so glad I saw this thank u so much.