A case of the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome in a 12-year-old boy with acute post-infectious cerebellar ataxia.

Background: The cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS), is characterised by disturbances in executive functions, visuospatial difficulties, personality changes, and linguistic difficulties. It is well described in other diseases of the cerebellum such as tumour resection and cerebellar stroke but has not previously been described in detail in paediatric cases of acute post-infectious ataxia (APCA).

Methods: Case study. A 12-year-old boy was admitted with severe ataxia, dysmetria, dysdiadokinesia, and dysarthria. He was diagnosed with acute post-infectious cerebellar ataxia (APCA). Besides motor symptoms, the patient showed signs of disturbances in executive functions, visiospatial difficulties, personality changes, and linguistic difficulties. These symptoms correspond to CCAS.

Conclusions: CCAS may be an overlooked complication to APCA. In addition, APCA is considered a transient, monophasic disease and studying CCAS in this disease may give insight into subtle cases of CCAS and thus provide new knowledge about CCAS.