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Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting with hemiparesis in childhood: case report
Hamit Ozyürek1, Aydan Değerliyurt, Guzide Turanli
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. hozyurekibu@hotmail.com
Insights
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a fatal neurological disease. Early diagnosis is crucial, as this case highlights SSPE presenting with focal neurological signs in an infant.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, chronic, and fatal central nervous system disease.
- It is a late complication of measles virus infection, typically occurring years after the initial illness.
Observation:
- A 14-month-old girl presented with left-sided hemiparesis.
- During hospitalization, she developed focal and generalized seizures.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed periodic lateralized discharges with polyspike and high-voltage slow waves in the left hemisphere.
Findings:
- Clinical presentation, EEG findings, and positive measles serology in cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis of SSPE.
- The patient's presentation with focal neurological deficits was atypical for SSPE, which commonly presents with psychointellectual disturbances.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering SSPE in the differential diagnosis of focal neurological signs in infants.
- Early recognition and diagnosis of SSPE are critical for potential management strategies, despite its generally poor prognosis.
Abstract:
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a chronic and fatal disease of the central nervous system. Most patients present with progressive psychointellectual disturbances. A 14-month-old girl was admitted to our hospital because of left-sided hemiparesis. During hospitalization, focal and generalized seizures occurred. The electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed that periodic lateralized discharges consisted of polyspike and high-voltage slow waves in the left hemisphere. The clinical and EEG findings and positive serology of measles in the cerebrospinal fluid were consistent with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In conclusion, we suggest that subacute sclerosing panencephalitis be considered in the differential diagnosis of focal neurologic signs in infants.