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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Published on: March 1, 2015

A child with difficulty swallowing.

Andrew Pittard¹, Thomas J Abramo, Donald H Arnold

¹Departments of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care

|August 19, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Difficulty swallowing in children can signal acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). This case highlights the need for broader differential diagnoses beyond common causes when symptoms persist.

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Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Published on: May 6, 2014

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Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Published on: March 1, 2015

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing

Published on: May 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Pediatric Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Demyelinating Diseases

Background:

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is a frequent emergency department complaint in children.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder.
ADEM typically follows an infection or vaccination, presenting with encephalopathy and neurological deficits.

Observation:

A male child presented with dysphagia as the initial symptom.
Standard evaluations for common causes of dysphagia were inconclusive.
The child was subsequently diagnosed with ADEM.

Findings:

This case illustrates dysphagia as an unusual early presentation of ADEM.
ADEM is characterized by widespread inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system.
Neurologic manifestations of ADEM are typically multifocal and acute or subacute.

Implications:

Pediatricians and emergency physicians should consider ADEM in children with unexplained dysphagia.
Early recognition of ADEM is crucial for timely intervention and management.
This case underscores the importance of considering less common diagnoses for persistent, unexplained symptoms.