Measles virus and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Abstract

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has nearly eliminated subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare complication of measles, and other measles-virus-related neurological disorders in populations with compulsory vaccination programs (http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html). Nonetheless, the neurological complications of measles, including SSPE, remain threats to unimmunized persons, especially children who live in measles-endemic regions and acquire measles at young ages. This chapter summarizes current information regarding the epidemiology, virology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of measles and its neurological complications, focusing on SSPE.