Facial or limb weakness in children - NICE guidance - suspected neurological conditions - recognition and referral

Limb or facial weakness in children

Summary points from NICE guidance relating limb or facial weakness in children are:

Sudden-onset or progressive limb or facial weakness

• refer immediately children with sudden-onset or rapidly progressive (hours to days) limb or facial weakness for neurological assessment
  
  
• refer urgently children with progressive limb weakness for neurological assessment.

Limb weakness as part of a developmental disorder

• refer children with limb weakness that is part of a developmental disorder to paediatric services

Boys with limb weakness

For boys with limb weakness

• consider measuring creatinine kinase level to exclude Duchenne muscular dystrophy before the boy has had a specialist review

Reference:

• NICE (May 2019). Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral