Question

Child presents with myoclonus jerk, decrease performance in school. There is history of fever at the age of 1 year with rash. It is suggestive of

• A. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
• B. Mesial temporal sclerosis
• C. Polio
• D. Measles

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the condition based on the symptoms and history provided, we can follow a logical approach:

• The child exhibits myoclonus jerk and decreased performance in school. These symptoms are indicative of neurological issues.
• There is a history of fever and rash at the age of 1 year. This detail is crucial, as it suggests a previous infection by a virus known for causing such symptoms.
• Considering these factors, we need to identify the condition from the given options:

Condition	Relation to Symptoms
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)	A rare chronic progressive encephalitis that occurs several years after a person has measles. It is characterized by the development of myoclonus and cognitive decline, which matches the child's symptoms.
Mesial temporal sclerosis	Primarily associated with seizures and epilepsy, but not outside its typical age range without other primary symptoms like fever/rash.
Polio	Causes muscle weakness and paralysis but does not directly explain myoclonus or cognitive decline.
Measles	Typically presents with fever and rash in the acute phase but without the chronic neurological sequelae described.

The symptoms and history provided most closely align with Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a condition that follows measles infection and causes both neurological and cognitive symptoms over time, which fits the scenario described.