February 28, 2006

 

Although multiple sclerosis has long been considered an adult disease, doctors are now starting to diagnose more cases in kids, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

 

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disorder in which myelin , the protective coating surrounding the brain and spinal cord, becomes inflamed. That inflammation can affect the person's speech, vision, movement, and bladder function. There is no cure for MS, but treatment can reduce the symptoms, and help slow the progression of the disease. The exact cause of MS isn't known, but doctors suspect that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may trigger the disease.

 

MS affects 400,000 people in the United States, including approximately 10,000 kids between the ages of 10 and 17. Experts believe that the condition may be going undiagnosed in many kids because MS isn't among the usual suspects of pediatric diseases doctors consider, the Journal said.

Doctors have long known that MS can affect children. But there's a drive to diagnose the disease earlier now as advancements in technology have given doctors more tools to make the diagnosis, and new research is showing that many adults with MS had symptoms as kids.

 

Many of the symptoms of MS are the same in kids and adults, but for kids, some of the symptoms, such as memory lapses and reading difficulty, may have a bigger impact because their brains are still under development, the Journal said.

 

Doctors are hoping to better understand what kinds of environmental triggers contribute to MS in kids. To help fuel that effort, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is providing $13.5 million over the next 5 years to six hospitals to research MS in kids.

 

 

What it Means to You

 

There is no single test to diagnose MS. In children with symptoms pointing to MS, doctors typically diagnose the condition by performing a series of tests over time and ruling out other causes for the child's symptoms.

The symptoms of MS affect different people in different ways. But they generally include extreme fatigue, numbness and tingling, vision problems, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder control problems. Some symptoms may come and go, while others may be long lasting.

 

If your child has any of these symptoms, it's important to talk with your child's doctor.

 

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2006