Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
26:48
Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: July 4, 2007
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a measles complication, in an internationally adopted child
D J Bonthius1, N Stanek, C Grose
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. daniel-bonthius@uiowa.edu
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|July 25, 2000
Insights
Measles infection in children adopted internationally can lead to severe complications like subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This highlights the importance of considering measles risk in international adoption health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- International adoption involves children from diverse health backgrounds.
- Global measles (rubeola) remains a significant public health concern in many regions.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, fatal neurological complication of measles.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 13-year-old boy, adopted from Thailand, developed SSPE.
- The patient had spent his early childhood in an orphanage in Thailand.
- The likely etiology was wild-type measles infection contracted during his time in Thailand.
Findings:
- Measles infection, particularly wild-type strains, can have devastating long-term neurological consequences.
- SSPE is a progressive and invariably fatal outcome of measles infection, often occurring years after the initial illness.
- The case underscores the potential for severe, preventable infectious disease complications in internationally adopted children.
Implications:
- International adoption health screenings should rigorously assess for prior measles exposure and vaccination status.
- Public health initiatives to control measles globally are crucial to prevent such tragic outcomes.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for measles-related neurological complications in adopted children with relevant exposure history.
Abstract:
A healthy 13-year-old boy who had spent the first 4.5 years of his life in an orphanage in Thailand before adoption by an American couple became ill with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and died several months later. The boy had most likely contracted wild-type measles in Thailand. Measles complications are a risk in international adoptions.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:22Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
01:26Brain Abscess l: Introduction
A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...