Myositis and rhabdomyolysis in hand-foot-mouth disease in childhood

Abstract

Objective: To report a hand-foot-mouth disease case, complicated by myositis, rhabdomyolisis and hepatitis, since this is a common disease in children and can result in rare but severe complications. Case description: A three-year-old girl with fever for three days, followed by the appearance of ulcerative lesions in the oral mucosa and severe muscular pain; after three days, she presented fever for two more days. At the same time, she had widespread erythematosus rash, especially in her hands, feet and face. She presented high levels of muscular and hepatic enzymes (maximum value of CPK 345.007IU/L, AST 2041IU/L, ALT 1589IU/L, GT 94IU/L), and transitory increase in serum creatinine (maximum value of 0.73mg/dL, creatinine clearance by Schwartz formula of 73mL/minute/1.73m2 of body surface). The patient improved progressively after vigorous hydration and urine alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate, without dialysis. Comments: This is a case report of a child with hand-foot-mouth disease with myositis, rhabdomyolisis and hepatitis. Clinical and laboratory criteria for the diagnosis and the need to monitor complications are reviewed in this report.