Hypokalemic periodic paralysis in a teenage boy after an intense period of exercise: A rare case report

Abstract

Key Clinical Messages Diagnosis of rare even can be missed due to less familiarity with the disorder. In patients with muscle weakness, infectious causes are prioritized. Electrolyte profile not only identifies the problem, but also prevents unnecessary workup. Abstract In underdeveloped countries, diagnosis of rare disorders is usually delayed due to less familiarity of the clinicians to such disorders. As a result, infectious and inflammatory causes for an ailment are prioritized as compared to non‐infectious etiologies. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (PP) is a rare disorder, characterized by episodic muscle weakness that can rarely be associated with life‐threatening cardiac arrhythmia. A teenage Afghan boy presented to the emergency department with an acute flaccid paralysis, that started 1 h after intense exercise The weakness involved both, the upper and lower extremities. Laboratory investigations, led to the impression of hypokalemic PP, precipitated by intense exercise. Accordingly, intravenous potassium chloride infusion diluted with normal saline led to the complete resolution of paralysis as well as correction of electrocardiographic changes. The list of differential diagnosis for flaccid muscle paralysis is wide, which generally requires a extensive investigations, but in hypokalemic PP, a cardinal electrolytes profile can lead towards early diagnosis. High degree of clinical suspicion with appropriate history taking and physical examination helps with the immediate identification and management of this disorder.

Keywords

• hypokalemia
• muscle weakness
• neuromuscular
• periodic paralysis