LEUKO-ENCEPHALITIS WITH HEMIPLEGIA DURING THE COURSE OF CHICKENPOX

Background. - Chickenpox encephalitis is usually mild and often presen ts as an acute cerebellar ataxia. Seizures and coma are uncommon. Case report. - A 4-year old girl presented generalized seizures. Two days after the onset of chickenpox, she developed ataxia and left hemipares is on day 3, followed by left hemiplegia after 24 hours. The cerebral scan showed areas of subcortical hypodensity compatible with leuko-enc ephalitis. The EEG showed lesions of acute leuko-encephalitis located in the right sub-cortical temporo-fronto-parietal area, The patient wa s given cortico-steroids and recovered slowly but completely. Conclusi ons. - Hemiplegia, an exceptional event during the course of chickenpo x, makes the diagnosis of chickenpox leuko-encephalitis difficult; IRM appears to be a contributing factor.