Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood in a Clinical Context: A Case Presentation

¹First-Degree Specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine, Second Degree Specialist in Pediatrics and Neurology, Professor and Assistant Researcher, Head of Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Pediatric Teaching Hospital Centro Habana, Cuba

²First-Degree Specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine and Clinical Genetics, Master in Genetic Counseling, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Teaching Hospital Centro Habana, Cuba

*Corresponding author: Dr. Ernesto Portuondo Barbarrosa, First-Degree Specialist in Comprehensive General Medicine, Second Degree Specialist in Pediatrics and Neurology, Professor and Assistant Researcher, Head of Clinical Neurophysiology Department, Pediatric Teaching Hospital Centro Habana, Cuba, Phone: 054495401, ORCID: 0000-0001-9578-6496, Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Received Date: April 07, 2026

Published Date: April 22, 2026

Citation: Barbarrosa EP, et al. (2026). Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood in a Clinical Context: A Case Presentation. Mathews J Case Rep. 11(2):221.

Copyrights: Barbarrosa EP, et al. © (2026).

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent episodes of alternating hemiplegia or quadriplegia that improve during sleep and vary in duration. Onset occurs before 18 months of age and is preceded by abnormal eye movements, accompanied by tonic and dystonic attacks with subsequent developmental regression. The main etiology is related to the ATP1A3 genetic mutation. Clinical Case: A 16-month-old male preschooler with no significant personal or family history. He had previously experienced psychomotor developmental delay in motor skills and language, accompanied by abnormal eye movements. At 12 months of age, he had two episodes: the first, in the context of an arboviral infection, resulted in diplegia; the second, following a prolonged bus trip, involved left hemiplegia lasting 7 days, with spontaneous recovery and no alteration of consciousness, followed by dystonic episodes. Complementary studies of cerebrospinal fluid cytochemistry and culture, multislice cranial CT scan, and normal metabolic studies in urine and serum were performed. Electroencephalography showed slow delta global activity without paroxysms. Treatment was initiated with flunarizine 5 mg daily at night. Follow-up was in the Neuropediatrics outpatient clinic. Genetic testing was limited. Conclusion: Alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is an entity whose diagnosis is essentially clinical, and our patient met the clinical criteria. Treatment with flunarizine is important to improve prognosis and quality of life.

Keywords: Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, Flunarizine.