Severe Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Mimicking Leukodystrophy in a Child

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (adem) is a monophasic, inflammatory central nervous system (cns) demyelinating disease that usually affects children more than adults.1 the international pediatric multiple sclerosis (ms) study group defines adem as the “first clinical event with a presumed inflammatory or demyelinating cause, with acute or sub acute onset that affects multifocal areas of the cns”.2 a polysymptomatic presentation, along with evidence of encephalopathy, such as behavioural changes or lethargy, must be present for the diagnosis.