subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis
Noun: A rare, chronic, and progressive inflammation of the brain's white matter, caused by the measles virus. It primarily affects children and young adults, typically leading to death within three years of onset. The condition is characterized by having had a primary measles infection before the age of two.
This term is used exclusively in medical and neurological contexts to describe a specific, fatal complication of measles infection. * The diagnosis of subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis confirmed the cause of the patient's neurological decline. * Subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis is a devastating consequence of measles, highlighting the importance of vaccination.
The term is often abbreviated as SSPE in clinical settings and medical literature. * The patient's history and MRI findings were consistent with SSPE. * Research into treatments for SSPE remains ongoing due to its poor prognosis.
- SSPE: The standard acronym for subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis.
- Dawson's encephalitis: A historical synonym, named after a physician who described the condition.
- Leukoencephalitis: A more general term for inflammation of the brain's white matter, of which SSPE is a specific type.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
- Dawson's encephalitis
This is a highly specific medical term with a single, precise meaning. It does not have idioms, phrasal verbs, or colloquial uses. Its definition is consistent across medical literature.
- a rare chronic progressive encephalitis caused by the measles virus and occurring primarily in children and young adults; death usually occurs within three years; characterized by primary measles infection before the age of two years