STH Fung, KCH Lau, SWW Cherk, EYL Kan

Abstract

We report a 19-month-old toddler who developed and survived an episode of acute necrotising encephalopathy, as suggested by typical rapidly deteriorating consciousness and seizures (status epilepticus) associated with parainfluenza infection and typical MRI brain features of multiple symmetrical involvement of bilateral thalami, brainstem and periventricular white matter. Despite the initial fulminant course, the child survived with moderate residual neurological deficits. We hope to raise the awareness of this rare presentation of parainfluenza infections and the importance of early aggressive treatment that may substantially improve the previous notoriously high mortality rate or poor neurological outcome.