Neuropathy, a disorder in which damage to nerves can impair sensation and movement, has many causes, including infection. Now, researchers from the UK have identified distinct genetic changes in a newly-discovered neuropathy and believe that their work will provide insights into the causal mechanism and why some previously healthy people develop neuropathies after infection whereas others do not.
Dr. Rob Harkness, a postdoctoral research Fellow at the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Monday) how the researchers were alerted to the case of a child in intensive care who had been fit and well until seven months old. Following a mild fever and rash she became very floppy and weak, needed help with her breathing and…