ACUTE CEREBELLAR ATAXIA IN CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH INFECTION BY POLIOVIRUS I

Abstract

Eleven cases of acute cerebellar ataxia are presented. The patients were observed during a period of 3½ months in the course of an epidemic of type I poliomyelitis in Puerto Rico. None had typical spinal poliomyelitis. There was evidence that infection with poliovirus type I could have been responsible for clinical findings in nine patients. In two, the symptoms were probably due to a different etiology. The findings suggest an association of acute cerebellar ataxia with infection by poliovirus I. This possibility deserves further investigation.