Fever Producing Ballismus in Patients With Choreoathetosis

Abstract

We report two children with choreoathetoid cerebral palsy who had intermittent, severe, paroxysmal episodes of ballismus in response to febrile illnesses. These episodes lasted for hours and were difficult to control, requiring large doses of haloperidol or phenytoin. Differentiation from seizures triggered by fever was readily made by concurrent electroencephalographic recordings.