Severe Post-Viral Polymyositis after COVID-19 in Childhood: A Case Report and Literature Review.

ABSTRACT: Polymyositis is a rarely reported complication of COVID-19 illness, especially in children. Molecular mimicry may be a cause of hyperactivated autoimmunity, leading to various clinical manifestations, including myopathies. Symptoms vary from mild muscle weakness to severe rhabdomyolysis. We review the literature on post-COVID myositis and report a case of severe polymyositis in a 7-year-old boy, following undefined viral infection 3 weeks before the onset of muscle pain. Patient's condition deteriorated from physical activity-associated pain in the lower limbs to severe muscle weakness leading to dysphagia and mechanical ventilation. As antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected and other possible conditions causing myositis were excluded, the diagnosis of post-COVID polymyositis was cons

SUBMITTER: Marciulynaite J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11352915 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature