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Heller syndrome: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Heller syndrome (synonyms: other disintegrative disorder of childhood, childhood dementia, disintegrative psychosis) is a rapidly progressing dementia in young children (after a period of normal development) with loss of previously acquired skills, and impairment of social, communicative and behavioral functioning.
ICD-10 code
F84.3 Other disintegrative disorder of childhood.
Epidemiology
Precise data on prevalence are not available. Etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. It is assumed that the disease is caused by a filterable virus.
Symptoms of Heller syndrome
Up to 2-3 years, children develop normally; later, over the course of 5-12 months, previously acquired skills are lost, speech is impaired, regression in the level of play and adaptive behavior is noted, and control over bowel and bladder function is often lost. This is accompanied by a disruption of social functioning, more typical of childhood autism than intellectual decline. There is no interest in the environment or communication with people, and repeated stereotypical actions are characteristic. The period of progressive development is replaced by a plateau state with subsequent minor improvement.
Treatment of Heller syndrome is symptomatic.
The prognosis is unfavorable.
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