Rare and Atypical Presentations of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis in Children: A Case Series

Abstract

Abstract Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic demyelinating disorder of central nervous system occurring in children with a wide range of clinical manifestations after infection or vaccination. There are few case reports in literature, describing atypical presentations of ADEM with fever of unknown origin, autonomic dysfunction, complex movement disorders such as myoclonus, dystonia and chorea, acute psychosis and myocarditis. Here, we report four cases of ADEM with atypical features like uniocular blindness, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies negative multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis, ADEM mimicking Guillain-Barre syndrome at presentation and isolated spinal ADEM. Treatment with high-dose steroids elicited an excellent neurological outcome in all patients. A high index of clinical suspicion along-with awareness of atypical features, magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid studies are of paramount importance in establishing ADEM diagnosis and initiation of early treatment for better outcome.