Podcast # 466: Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

Author: Nicholas Hatch, MD Educational Pearls: Measles has a period of infectivity starts before the appearance of the characteristic rash, up to 4-5 days A devastating consequence of measles is Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), which manifests 7-10 years after the initial measles infection SSPE is a central nervous system disease that has no cure and is nearly universally fatal Educating patients on the importance of vaccination should include discussion of these long term consequences References Pallivathucal LB, Noymer A. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis mortality, United States, 1979-2016: Vaccine-induced declines in SSPE deaths. Vaccine. 2018 Aug 23;36(35):5222-5225. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.030. Epub 2018 Jul 26. PubMed PMID: 30057285. Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD