subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

[ suhb-uh-kyoot skli-roh-sing pan-en-sef-uh-lahy-tis, pan- ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a rare infection of the central nervous system caused by the measles virus, occurring in children and adolescents several years after a measles attack and characterized by progressive personality changes, seizures, and muscular incoordination. : SSPE

Word History and Origins

Origin of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis¹

First recorded in 1965–70; scleros(is) + -ing ²; pan- + encephalitis