Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in a young female from rural Nepal: A rare case report

Introduction: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by myriad neurological deficits and symptoms, including encephalopathy. The heterogeneity of the clinical presentation and the rarity of the condition can potentially delay diagnosis. Early diagnosis could be lifesaving, but is often challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. Case presentation: We report a case of ADEM in a 27 years old young Asian female from a remote village in Nepal who presented with a rapidly deteriorating neurological decline. Early clinical suspicion, timely diagnosis, and prompt treatment with intravenous corticosteroids led to favorable outcomes. Over a three-year follow up period, she achieved complete neurological recovery and exhibited a typical monophasic disease course. Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis of acute neurological presentations and highlights how early intervention can fully reverse treatable neurological diseases.