A total of 20 patients aged 8-14 years was admitted to hospital over a six year period with an acute encephalopathy following toluene abuse. In all cases, toxicity was confined to the central nervous system. Electroencephalography performed in ten patients was abnormal in three; 14 patients made a complete recovery; five had evidence of personality impairment but werelost to follow-up; and one had a persistent cerebellar ataxia one year after admission, despite absence of exposure to toluene. -- AATA