panencephalitis (medicine) and magnetic (as used in expressions) (sh)

panencephalitis (medicine)

panencephalitis

A diffuse inflammation of the brain.

Nodular panencephalitis, probably a form of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Synonym: Pette-Doring disease.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that affects primarily children and young adults, caused by the measles virus. Characterised by a history of primary measles infection before the age of two years, followed by several asymptomatic years, and then gradual, progressive psychoneurological deterioration, consisting of personality change, seizures, myoclonus, ataxia, photosensitivity, ocular abnormalities, spasticity, and coma. Characteristic periodic activity is seen on EEG; pathologically, the white matter of both the hemispheres and brainstem are affected, as well as the cerebral cortex, and eosinophilic inclusion bodies are present in the cytoplasm nuclei of neurons and glial cells. Death usually occurs within three years.

Synonym: Bosin's disease, Dawson's encephalitis, inclusion body encephalitis, sclerosing leukoencephalitis, subacute inclusion body encephalitis, subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis, van Bogaert encephalitis.