Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) as one of the etiology of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is an acute widespread immune mediated inflammatory demyelinating event of the central nervous system with multifocal neurological deficit; typically accompanied by encephalopathy of varying degree.

This observational prospective hospital based study was conducted in the Pediatric Medicine department of a tertiary care centre in Eastern India over a period of 18 months. All 6 months to 12 years patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study and outcome assessed. Out of a total of 30 children; 17 (57%) were boys and 13 (43%) girls. The youngest of them was 10 months old and the eldest being 12 years old. The most common presenting feature was alteration of consciousness seen in 24 (80%) followed by motor weakness seen in 21(70%) children.Glasgow coma score (GCS) less than 8 was seen in 4 patients at presentation. All children were followed up to one and half years. Out of 24 children who had monophasic course of illness 22 children (73.3% of total patients) made uneventful recovery. It requires early diagnosis and institution of specific therapy to decrease neurologic and psychiatric morbidity.

Keywords: ADEM, Methylprednisolone, IVIG.

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Dr Suprit Basu

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