Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, are similar to multiple sclerosis. As a result, the disease is often misdiagnosed as a severe attack of multiple sclerosis. There are key differences, however, between the symptoms of ADEM and MS, 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 may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• 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.

Other symptoms are caused by myelin damage and include:

• Difficulty coordinating muscle movements
• Visual disturbances
• Weakness of a single limb or one side of the body

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated March 10, 2010