SSPE tends to occur several years after having measles (rubeola) even though the measle recovery appears to have been normal. More males are affected than females, and the disease generally occurs in children and adolescents. Affected individuals generally succumb one to two years after diagnosis, but some may survive for longer periods.

SSPE begins slowly with subtle behavioral changes and mounting difficulty in school. As the disease progresses, behavior becomes bizarre and the person eventually develops dementia, stupor, coma, and finally death.

Physical signs are few until the disease is well advanced. Patients may have rhythmic jerking of the body every few seconds, seizures, and abnormal gait (cerebellar ataxia).

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