Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) are similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) and therefore the disease is often misdiagnosed as a severe attack of MS. However, there are key differences between the conditions' symptoms, which can be recognized by a neurologist.

Initial symptoms of ADEM occur quickly and intensely as a single, short-lived attack, though some children experience recurrent episodes over a period of months. Symptoms of ADEM may include fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Changes in your child's consciousness, such as seizures or in severe cases, coma, as well as behavioral changes, such as irritability, are also likely to occur. Other symptoms are caused by myelin damage and include visual disturbances, difficulty coordinating muscle movements and weakness of a single limb or one side of the body.

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Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 10, 2007