What is Acute Polyneuritis?

Acute polyneuritis, also known as acute polyradiculoneuritis, is a common disease. Most patients experience an upper respiratory tract infection several days prior to onset. Affected nerves may cause itching, pain, and sensory loss; the involved areas may become erythematous and swollen, and severe muscle spasms may occur. The principal clinical manifestations include symmetric, centripetal, progressive ascending numbness of the limbs, flaccid paralysis of all four limbs, and varying degrees of sensory disturbance. In severe cases, the disease may lead to fatal respiratory muscle paralysis syndrome.