Publication Name	World Journal of Clinical Cases
Manuscript ID	126833
DOI	10.12998/wjcc.126833
Country	Egypt

Category	Pediatrics
Manuscript Type	Case Report
Article Title	Contrasting diagnostic challenges of headache before and after acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children: Two case reports and review of literature
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Jameel Ahmed Nazeer and Reem M Elbeltagi
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number None
Corresponding Author	Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Chairman, Consultant, Head, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Bld 1039, Road 2626, Block 226, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Key Words	Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; Persistent headache; Child; Magnetic resonance imaging; Case report
Core Tip	Headache may occur at different stages of pediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and can create distinct diagnostic challenges. In the first case, severe headaches preceded the development of encephalopathy and multifocal neurological abnormalities. In the second, persistent headache continued after neurological recovery and prompted reassessment for ongoing inflammatory disease. Importantly, persistent headache alone does not establish recurrent or multiphasic ADEM. These cases emphasize the importance of interpreting headache based on its temporal relationship to neurological findings and using repeat neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid evaluation selectively when clinically indicated.
Citation	Al-Beltagi M, Nazeer JA, Elbeltagi RM. Contrasting diagnostic challenges of headache before and after acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children: Two case reports and review of literature. World J Clin Cases 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.126833
PDF	126833-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-08-14 07:55
Peer-Review Started	2026-08-14 07:55
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-08-24 09:02
Revised	2026-08-25 10:18
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-09-16 08:58
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-09-16 09:48
Articles in Press	2026-09-16 09:48
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2307-8960 (online)
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Copyright	© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
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