ADEM Relapse

[vijay49]

My sister in India has ADEM. she went to hospital and was released with notion that she was free of ADEM. Howevr, last week she was admitted to hospital with ADEM. They just released again yesteday. She still has a headache. How do we make sure that she does not get the ADEM again? What headache medicine she should be taking? Is vomiting normal?

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

ADEM can be monophasic, recurrent or multiphasic. The first objective is to determine if your sister was completely recovered from ADEM when discharged. The symptoms that occur initially may evolve up to three months. These events are typically part of the initial monophasic ADEM and do not necessarily indicate recurrence. If symptoms that are similar to the initial event occur at 3 months or longer after initial presentation, these are considered recurrence. Multiphasic means symptoms occurring at new sites at least three months after initial event.

Without further information about her headache, it is difficult to provide you with adequate information. The headache treatment will be determined by her symptoms. If this headache is a primary headache and not associated with the ADEM, the treatment is different. If associated with ADEM, the ADEM will need to be treated with pain medications.

I highly suggest that your sister be evaluated for further progression of the ADEM and further management of her headache. It is important that she have a low threshold for any change in neurological symptoms (new or worsening).

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[vijay49]

Dr. Newey-My sister was admitted to hospital last night. They did MRi and the reuslts were ngetive for ADEM. She was having a terrible headache yesterday. They gave here pain killer injections but nothing has helped. The headaache is still there. Why the pain killers are not working? your prompt response is apprciated.
thanks