Acute neurological deficit: is it demyelination? Review of demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system

Abstract

Childhood demyelination is a condition that all paediatricians will see either presenting as encephalopathy from Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) or neurological deficits such as with optic neuritis (ON) or transverse myelitis (TM) amongst other presentations. We discuss the various types of demyelinating conditions including MOG antibody disease (MOGAD), NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and Paediatric onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) and how these conditions present, how these should be investigated, the differentials to consider when faced with a patient with acute neurological deficit and the acute and long-term management for paediatric patients with demyelinating conditions.