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Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

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Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, is a rare disorder that can cause damage to the myelin, a protective sheath that covers nerve cell fibers. In rare instances, the onset of ADEM has followed the administration of certain vaccines.

Were You or a Loved One Diagnosed with ADEM Following Vaccination? Contact a Vaccine Injury Lawyer to Learn If You Might Qualify for Compensation.

Individuals diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, following vaccination may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• More

To contact one of Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s vaccine injury lawyers, please call (888) 994-5118.

What is Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis?

ADEM is a brief, but very intense, inflammatory attack on the nerve’s myelin sheath.

The symptoms of the disorder appear rapidly and may include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Coma

Because ADEM damages the white matter of the brain, long-term complications, such as vision loss, weakness, loss of coordination, and even paralysis, are common.

The symptoms of ADEM and the appearance of the white matter injury on brain imaging may be similar to multiple sclerosis (MS). As such, the condition is often misdiagnosed as a severe first attack of MS.

ADEM usually responds well to corticosteroids. Most people treated for ADEM will begin to recover within days. However, some victims may experience mild to moderate life-long impairment.

ADEM may recur months after an initial diagnosis. A small fraction of those with ADEM will go on to develop MS.

ADEM and Vaccines

In more than half of all ADEM cases, the disorder follows a viral or bacterial infection. In some cases, the triggering event is never identified.

In rare cases, ADEM has been reported after vaccination, including:

• MMR vaccine
• Flu vaccine
• Gardasil (HPV) vaccine
• Menactra (meningitis) vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine

Vaccine-related ADEM may occur up to 3 months after an inoculation.

Compensation for Vaccine-Related ADEM

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) provides compensation to those who have been harmed by vaccines.  To date, the program has paid more than $3.9 billion in compensation to victims of vaccine-related injuries, including individuals who developed ADEM following the MMR vaccine and other inoculations.

To learn of you might qualify to file an ADEM claim with the NVICP, please call (888) 994-5118 to discuss your case with a member of our legal team.