Mielite transversa aguda

introduction: acute urinary retention is unusual in children. careful neurological examination is very important, as abnormal neurological signs may be the clue for the diagnosis. case report: the authors report the case of a ten-year-old boy, with no previous relevant diseases, presenting acute urinary retention, constipation and signs of upper motor neuron lesion. the evaluation suggested an idiopathic acute transverse myelitis. treatment included alpha blockers and vesical catheterization with favorable evolution. conclusion: acute transverse myelitis is a spinal cord inflammatory disease, characterized by signs of motor, sensitive and autonomic disfunction. etiology and pathogenesis are not well established. cerebrospinal fluid examination and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging usually demonstrate spinal cord inflammation. treatment is controversial and prognosis is variable.