Acute encephalopathy associated with measles.

Thirty children presenting with acute encephalopathic illness within a month of measles were studied. A male preponderance was found and 83.3% of cases were below 5 years of age. The interval between onset of measles rash and that of encephalopathy ranged from 0 to 20 days. Fever (96.6%), convulsions (70%), and coma (90%) were found in a high percentage of cases, while focal neurological deficits and abnormal movements were found in a small number of patients (3.3% and 16.6% respectively). Signs of cerebellar or medullar involvement were not seen. Only 1 (3.3%) case had pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid. Eleven (36.6%) patients died in hospital. The pathogenesis of acute encephalopathy following measles is discussed.