Opsoclonus-Myoclonus Syndrome Symptom Guide
Acute Cerebellar Ataxia
Acute cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disorder that occurs when the cerebellum is damaged or inflamed. The cerebellum controls muscle coordination and a person's gait. Ataxia occurs when individuals lose the ability to coordinate or control their voluntary muscle movements. In acute cases, ataxia happens quickly, generally showing up within a few minutes to two days. Acute cerebellar ataxia causes a loss of coordination that makes it difficult to perform day-to-day tasks. The condition is most commonly seen in children from two to seven years old. Most opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome patients are also children. There are multiple symptoms of acute cerebellar ataxia, including impaired coordination in the legs, arms, or torso, along with an unsteady gait and frequent stumbling. Patients may have trouble with eating, writing, buttoning shirts, and other tasks requiring fine motor skills. Slurred speech and vocal changes are also common, and some patients may experience dizziness and headaches.
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Opsoclonus
Opsoclonus, one of the core symptoms of opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, is a condition that causes uncontrolled eye movements. The eye movements are repeated, rapid, and random. They may involve movements in diagonal, vertical, and horizontal directions. There's also a vision condition called nystagmus, in which an individual's eyes make uncontrolled and repetitive movements. The movements can reduce a patient's vision and decrease their depth perception. In addition, coordination and balance may be affected due to the involuntary visual input. When this is combined with ataxia, it leads to serious trouble functioning in day-to-day life. Nystagmus tends to be a sign there's another underlying medical issue. Sometimes contact lenses and eyeglasses can improve a patient's vision, but they won't cure nystagmus.
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