Bilateral basal ganglia lucencies following acute febrile illness

Bilateral striatal necrosis in children without damage elsewhere in the brain can present as an acute neurological disorder or as a progressive disorder. Three children of 6, 7 and 12 years age developed dystonic posture of limbs without any cranial nerve involvement or alteration of sensorium soon after recovery from acute high grade febrile illness of 3–4 days duration. Computerized tomographic scan of head showed bilateral necrosis of basal ganglia. We think that these patients probably constitute a clinically and radiologically distinct subgroup of disorder that prouce bilateral striatal necrosis in children. The cause of the syndrome is unknown.