Question

A 52-year-old woman develops ascending weakness over 4 days after a diarrhoeal illness. Examination reveals flaccid paralysis in the legs, areflexia and reduced vital capacity. Which finding would most strongly indicate need for ICU admission?

Accepted Answer

Vital capacity <15 mL/kg

Answer

Absent knee jerks only

Answer

Mild distal paraesthesiae

Answer

Facial weakness without bulbar involvement

Answer

Elevated CSF protein with normal cells

Practice question

A 52-year-old woman develops ascending weakness over 4 days after a diarrhoeal illness. Examination reveals flaccid paralysis in the legs, areflexia and reduced vital capacity. Which finding would most strongly indicate need for ICU admission?