Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis:
The Maharashtra state government recently informed the Bombay High Court that it is yet to frame a policy to deal with Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), an extremely rare but fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting children that has a fatality rate of 95%.
- SSPE, also known as Dawson disease, is a progressive, disabling, and deadly brain disorder related to measles (rubeola) infection.
- The disease develops many years after the measles infection, even though the person seems to have fully recovered from the illness.
- SSPE has been reported in all parts of the world, but in western countries it is a rare disease.
- Males are more often affected than females. The disease generally occurs in children and adolescents.
- SSPE is a rare condition.
- Normally, the measles virus does not cause brain damage.
- However, an abnormal immune response to measles or, possibly, certain variant forms of the virus may cause severe illness and death.
- This response leads to brain inflammation (swelling and irritation) that may last for years.
- High mortality rates are associated with SSPE, and there is no cure for SSPE.
- Treatment is generally aimed at regulating symptoms.
- Certain antiviral medicines and medicines that boost the immune system may be tried to slow the progression of the disease.
