Juvenile myasthenia gravis in a black Zambian child

Abstract

A 7 year old girl with progressive ptosis and worsening generalised body weakness presented to the out-patient clinic of a general paediatric unit at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after having been to a number of health institutions before a diagnosis of Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis was made. She was commenced on a steroid and anticholinesterase therapy with great improvement. This case report summarises the progression of symptoms, challenges in diagnosis and improvement on initiation of pyridostigmine therapy.

Keywords: Myasthenia Gravis, Bilateral ptosis, Delayed diagnosis, Child