Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) Overview ADEM is an acquired condition wherein demyelination takes place in the brain and spinal cord secondary to antecedent infection or immunization. It generally affects younger population, is usually monophasic, and does not tend to recur. Symptoms FeverHeadacheMeningismSeizuresAltered mental stateMultiple neurological deficits Risk factors More common among children than adultsOne is more likely to get ADEM soon after having an infection Specialist to approach Neurologist Diagnosis CSF examination to determine the number of white blood cells, protein levels, and oligoclonal bandsMRI to check lesions involving grey matter, mass effect and enhancement after instilling contrastOther diseases such as multiple sclerosis, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), neuromyelitis optica, neurosarcoidosis, malignancy, and granulomas need to be ruled out Treatment Five-day-course of intravenous immunoglobulin.