ISOLATION OF VIRUS FROM A PATIENT WITH FATAL ENCEPHALITIS COMPLICATING MEASLES

Encephalitic signs accompanying or following the course of measles are among the most frequent nervous complications of the childhood exanthems. There are several theories as to the origin of these disturbances, but none has yet been clearly established as correct. Many clinicians believe that neurotropic properties of measles virus are directly responsible, but there is little or no experimental evidence to support this view or, indeed, any of the following hypotheses. Some consider the manifestations as toxic or allergic responses to the products of the pathogenic activity of measles virus, while others hold that the reactions may be of the anaphylactic type. Certain workers feel that the involvement of the central nervous system may be due to the secondary action of another agent which has been able to invade the body owing to temporary depression of resistance induced by measles virus. Encephalitis complicating measles might thus fall into a group