Rationale: Generalized weakness carries a broad differential, and specific features often distinguish the various etiologies. Sepsis would be expected to show a febrile response, as would meningitis, but these are nevertheless important to consider. Botulism, an afebrile illness, shows a characteristic clinical pattern. The other causes have their own clinical neurologic features, and tick paralysis should be associated with an engorged tick, usually on the scalp. Myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome are remote possibilities.