a rare chronic progressive encephalitis caused by the measles virus and occurring primarily in children and young adults; death usually occurs within three years; characterized by primary measles infection before the age of two years

[ Syn: subacute sclerosing panencephalitis , sspe , inclusion body encephalitis , subacute inclusion body encephalitis , sclerosing leukoencephalitis , subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis , bosins disease , dawsons encephalitis , van bogaert encephalitis ]