Severe demyelinating diseases in childhood: a clinicopathological study.

Case reports of six children seen by the author were selected to emphasize that severe demyelinating diseases occur in childhood, even if rarely. Cases include measles encephalitis, acute and chronic, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, neuromyelitis optica, and multiple sclerosis, confirmed by pathologic findings, and, finally, a case of multiple sclerosis in a living child. Emphasis is directed to the clinical and pathological findings of demyelinating diseases associated with viral encephalitis caused by rubeola and vaccinia viruses. Photomicrographs illustrate the principal pathologic findings.