Weakness is a common complaint in the emergency department, and a most challenging one, because before the emergency physician can proceed with an evaluation, the complaint of weakness must be fully clarified to determine about what the patient is actually complaining. This article will focus on causes of acute generalized nontraumatic bilateral weakness. Evaluation begins with the history and physical examination, followed by diagnostic testing in some cases.
Keywords: Acute weakness; Botulism; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Myasthenia gravis; Periodic paralysis; Tick paralysis; Transverse myelitis.
Published by Elsevier Inc.