ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a demyelinating inflammatory disorder characterized clinically by acute-onsetpolyfocal neurologic deficits and encephalopathy and fluffy white matter lesions radiologically. Antecedent factors include infections, vaccinations and others. Usually, a monophasic illness, recurrences should raise a suspicion of a relapsing disorder such as myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated demyelination or multiple sclerosis. Investigations are warranted to rule out other causes of encephalopathy. Management includes immunomodulation with high dose pulse methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and/or plasmapheresis. Prognosis depends on the recovery after the acute stage and the risk of recurrent demyelination.