Any experience with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis?

[live4today, RN]

does anyone have any experience with "adem"....acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.........especially in small children?

my youngest grandchild.........two year old girl......is in the hospital and was just diagnosed with adem. she has been sick with stomach flu since last friday, wouldn't eat or drink anything, listless, then on sunday had two tonic seizures before being transferred from the military hospital to a children's hospital in missouri. an mri was done which showed she has lesions at the base of the brainstem, and the sheath has been worn away. the doctors feel the seizures caused the adem.

her walk is wobbly, so the doctors are certain it is the adem that is responsible for that. they have started her on a high dose of iv steroids every eight hours which she will get for three to five days. she is eating now, but not drinking a whole lot. they are poking her little fingers every 8 hours for blood sugars, and doing frequent checks on her blood pressure as these are two things that get out of wack with such high doses of steroids. she will receive physical therapy as well for some time to strengthen her. other test are also being done.

if anyone has any specific experience with adem, please share it with me. prayers are appreciated as well. thanks everyone!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

No expereience in kids, but some links; if not caused by measles 90% remission rate:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/acute_encephalomyelitis/acute_encephalomyelitis.htm

http://neuroland.com/ms/adem.htm

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/a17.html

Children:

http://www.encephalitis.info/Children/Childhood.asp

Will send out a prayer for a full recover for your loved one.

[live4today, RN]

Thank you Karen for providing those links. I've bookmarked them in my daughter's favorites for us to read later today when she comes home to refresh before returning to the hospital. :)

[live4today, RN]

Hi Karen, :)

Just an update on my granddaughter since you were so kind to respond. She may be discharged tomorrow if everything goes well tonight thru tomorrow morning. Her IV steroids will cease tonight, and the oral steroids started tomorrow for five weeks. She's walking normal now,:) thus the doc wanted to stop the iv steroids after three days instead of the usual five days. We are pleased as punch with her healing process, but know the healing process continues for some time now. :balloons:

Thank you so much for providing the links for me. You and kids-r-fun gave me some really helpful links to read. My daughter and son in law read them, and thank you too. :)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Glad to here things are improving and your granddaughter will be home soon!

Kept sending healing thoughts and prayers your way while I was at work today as I know how much you love your granchildren. Glad I could help.