title: Pediatric demyelinating diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the past decade, the number of studies related to demyelinating diseases in children has exponentially increased. Demyelinating disease in children may be monophasic or chronic. Typical monophasic disorders in children are acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and clinically isolated syndromes, including optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. However, some cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or clinically isolated syndrome progress to become chronic disorders, including multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. This review summarizes the current knowledge on monophasic and chronic demyelinating disorders in children, focusing on an approach to diagnosis and management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improved diagnostic definitions for pediatric demyelinating diseases have led to enhanced recognition of these disorders. Additionally, increased awareness and focused national and international efforts continue to inform about the clinical course, response to treatment, and disease pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant advances have been made in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of pediatric demyelinating disorders over the past 10 years. This review summarizes these advances and provides an updated approach to the diagnosis and management of pediatric demyelinating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Child Neurology, Boston, MA 02114, USA. tchitnis@partners.org
authors.forename: Tanuja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chitnis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004684:Leukoencephalitis, Acute Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology