Differential Diagnosis for Wernicke with Foot Drop and Wobbly Gait
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome with thiamine deficiency: This condition is characterized by Wernicke's encephalopathy (which includes symptoms like ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, and confusion) followed by Korsakoff's psychosis. The foot drop and wobbly gait can be attributed to the ataxia and neuropathy associated with thiamine deficiency.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Chronic alcohol abuse with peripheral neuropathy: Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to peripheral neuropathy, which may cause foot drop and gait disturbances. The presence of Wernicke's encephalopathy suggests a possible link to alcohol abuse.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency with subacute combined degeneration: Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, leading to gait disturbances, ataxia, and peripheral neuropathy, which may result in foot drop.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome: This is an autoimmune disorder that can cause rapid onset of muscle weakness, including foot drop, and may be life-threatening if not promptly treated.
- Cauda equina syndrome: This condition, often caused by a herniated disk, can lead to foot drop, gait disturbances, and other neurological symptoms, requiring urgent medical attention.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Friedreich's ataxia: A rare genetic disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system, resulting in ataxia, gait disturbances, and peripheral neuropathy.
- Tabes dorsalis: A rare condition caused by late-stage syphilis, characterized by degeneration of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord, leading to gait disturbances, ataxia, and peripheral neuropathy.