pica and Movement-Disorders

This article reports a typical case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The patient contracted measles as an infant during the 1989 to 1991 United States measles epidemic. At 4 1/2 years of age, he developed behavioral changes and quickly progressed through the typical clinical stages of SSPE. His EEG was characteristic. Serum and CSF measles immunoglobulin G were markedly elevated. He remains alive but is vegetative. To our knowledge, this is the first case of SSPE stemming from the 1989 to 1991 measles epidemic. Because infants--the group at highest risk to develop SSPE--were most severely affected by this measles outbreak, other cases of SSPE stemming from this epidemic may occur.

Topics: Brain; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Disease Progression; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Measles; Movement Disorders; Persistent Vegetative State; Pica; Severity of Illness Index; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis