Question

Child presents with myoclonus jerk, decrease performance in school. There is history of fever at the age of 1 year with rash. It is suggestive of-

• A. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
• B. Mesial temporal sclerosis
• C. Polio
• D. Measles

Hint:

Think about which progressive CNS disease is linked to measles infection in infancy after a long latent period.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Key concept: SSPE (Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis) is caused by defective measles virus persisting in the CNS after primary infection.

Clinical clue: Measles at 1 year of age + latent period of 6-8 years + myoclonic jerks + cognitive decline = SSPE.

Why not the others?
- Mesial temporal sclerosis: causes complex partial seizures, not linked to early measles rash.
- Polio: motor neuron disease causing flaccid paralysis; no rash, no cognitive component.
- Measles: acute febrile illness; does not recur years later as a CNS degenerative disease.

EEG hallmark of SSPE: Periodic synchronous discharges (Radermecker complexes), high-amplitude biphasic slow waves every 5-8 seconds.

CSF finding: Elevated measles antibody titre (gold standard for diagnosis).

Therefore, the answer is Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. \[\boxed{\text{Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)}}\]