# Post-infectious Transverse Myelitis Secondary to Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in a Pregnant Daycare Worker

## TL;DR

A pregnant daycare worker developed spinal inflammation after a hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak with only rash symptoms.

## Contribution

This case highlights a rare TM occurrence linked to HFMD without typical systemic symptoms.

## Key findings

- The patient developed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis following HFMD.
- The HFMD presented only with rash and no fever or systemic signs.
- This case expands understanding of TM triggers in pregnancy.

## Abstract

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that infections, vaccines, and autoimmune processes can cause or may have no discernible cause. About half of the cases are caused by an infection, usually a viral respiratory infection, flu-like illness, or sometimes a gastrointestinal infection. Although coxsackieviruses and enteroviruses are known to cause TM, it is more commonly associated with respiratory symptoms or systemic signs than a rash. In this case, we present a pregnant daycare worker who had a case of longitudinally extensive TM after an episode of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which only showed the typical rash without fever or systemic signs.