Related Experiment Videos
Pediatric and adolescent multiple sclerosis
Jennifer A D Sluder1, Patricia Newhouse, Daniel Fain
1Children's Hospita, Los Angeles, California 90054-0700, USA.
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating neurologic illness that affects 250000-350000 Americans and is second only to trauma as the leading cause of neurologic disability among young adults. The hundreds of case reports and many retrospective reviews on pediatric and adolescent MS provide clear evidence in the literature that it exists. MS will not be encountered often in primary pediatric practice. Only 2% of patients with MS have onset of their illness before age 21 years, but this article shows that it can be diagnosed with the proper index of suspicion. Early diagnosis is of particular importance because of the investigation of medications that have been proven to prevent the progression of illness and disability. Because of the advances in preventative therapies, the timely and accurate diagnosis of MS in childhood is of utmost importance to prevent future disability. This article presents a case of a preadolescent MS, reviews MS in detail, and highlights the literature to date on pediatric MS to provide clinicians with the knowledge to arrive at a speedy and accurate diagnosis.
Insights
Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is rare but can be diagnosed in young adults with a high index of suspicion. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing long-term disability in children with MS.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a significant cause of neurologic disability in young adults.
- Pediatric MS, while uncommon, is supported by existing case reports and reviews.
- Early-onset MS before age 21 affects approximately 2% of patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of preadolescent MS.
- To review the literature on pediatric MS.
- To equip clinicians with knowledge for timely MS diagnosis in children.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Comprehensive literature review on pediatric and adolescent MS.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and clinical suspicion.
Main Results:
- Preadolescent MS can be diagnosed with appropriate clinical suspicion.
- Advances in preventative therapies underscore the need for early diagnosis.
- Timely diagnosis is critical for mitigating future disability.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric MS requires a high index of suspicion for accurate diagnosis.
- Early intervention in childhood MS is vital for long-term patient outcomes.
- This review provides essential information for clinicians managing pediatric MS cases.