Abstract
Urinary retention in children can have varied etiology ranging from anatomic to functional
causes. Functional causes include neuropathies, including rare central nervous system
(CNS) involvement, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). ADEM is usually
preceded by acute viral infection and commonly presents with multifocal neurological
deficits. The ADEM diagnosis is mainly based on the clinical presentation and its
correlation with characteristic CNS findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Here, we report an adolescent boy who presented with acute urinary retention preceded
by an acute febrile illness. The patient was worked up thoroughly, including an MRI
of the brain and spine, which revealed ADEM's characteristic features. The bladder
function was evaluated periodically. The voiding dysfunction persisted for a long
time. Treatment with steroids and other supportive therapy ultimately lead to a complete
recovery over 6 months.
Keywords
urinary retention - voiding dysfunction - acute disseminated encephalomyelitis - adolescent
