A 2-year-old child suffering from an acute febrile condition associated with repeated generalized convulsions followed by coma is presented. The temperature curve showed a biphasic pattern and reached values below 36 °C. Since the tenth day of illness the patient showed akinesia, amimia, slurred speech, tremor at rest and at action, lead-pipe and cog-wheel rigidity. His gait was hesitating, shuffling and on broad base. Three weeks later, these signs completely disappeared; CSF virus cultures grew an enterovirus. The diagnosis of sporadic ‘Von Economo’s encephalitis’ is raised and a review of the recent literature on this subject is given.