Acute poststreptococcal polymyalgia with trismus

Acute poststreptococcal polymyalgia is an infrequently described entity that may follow infection with group A streptococci.1 Hallmarks of this condition are diffuse pain and exquisite tenderness of skeletal muscles without concomitant arthritis or elevated plasma concentrations of muscle enzymes. We recently cared for two children in whom acute poststreptococcal polymyalgia was associated with trismus. It is important to recognize this condition and distinguish it from tetanus. CASE REPORTS Case 1 A 6-year-old black boy was previously healthy until five days prior to admission when fever, sore throat, back pain, and malaise developed. On the day of admission, generalized rigidity and difficulty swallowing occurred.