Unilateral lesions of basal ganglia nuclei in children during myxovirus para-influenzae infection

Unilateral disorders of the basal ganglia in childhood have received little attention. Infections are a rare cause where as infarction is the most common one. We report the case of a 11 year-old boy who presented an acute hemiplegia with hypodense areas limited to the left lenticular, caudate nuclei and internal capsule. Virologic investigations showed a recent infection due to myxovirus para influenzae. Angiography demonstrated no focal vascular disease. The course was favorable with full recovery.