Although MS occurs more commonly in adults, recognizing MS in children remains critical for improving long-term outcomes6
Patients with pediatric-onset MS almost always present with a relapsing-remitting course14
Impact Overview
MS follows a damaging and progressive course
Relapse rates in children during the first 6 years of disease are more than 2x higher than in adults15
| • | The number of brain lesions in children at disease onset are predictors of clinical disability and outcome16 |
| • | Relapses are more frequent and severe than in adults4,17 – 2 to 3 times more frequent18 – Frequently categorized as severe4 |
To prevent clinical relapse and CNS injury in children, an early and accurate diagnosis is critical.17
CNS=central nervous system.
Pediatric patients with MS reach disability milestones 7 to 12 years earlier than adults.19
The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is an ordinal clinical rating scale ranging from 0 (normal neurologic examination) to 10 (death due to MS) in half-point increments, most often administered by a neurologist.2
Expanded Disability Status Scale20
Physical
Childhood is a critical period for brain development22
| • | MS-related brain lesions in children may severely impact brain development, resulting in reduced brain volume and skull size22 |
Children with MS experience disability milestones and irreversible disability earlier than adults.17,19
Cognitive
CNS damage in children leads to impaired cognition
30% to 50% of patients have reported cognitive impairment4,16
30% to 50% of patients have reported cognitive impairment4,16
| • | Increased difficulty in learning10 |
| • | Decrease in school grades |
Most frequent areas of impairment16
• Complex attention
• Executive function
• Fine motor and information-processing speed
• Verbal ability
• Visuospatial memory
• Executive function
• Fine motor and information-processing speed
• Verbal ability
• Visuospatial memory
Children with MS experience brain volume loss during a phase of expected brain growth23
Emotional
MS disrupts the lives of children and teens by impacting interactions with school, friendships, hobbies and family24
Creates continuous challenges
| • | Increased school absences25 |
| • | Limitations to fully joining peer-related activities24 |
| • | Routine doctors' appointments, periodic clinical exams and tests24 – Ongoing treatments (and side effects) |
Causes emotional stress from living with a chronic illness
| • | Can lead to frustration, anger, and withdrawal24 |
| • | Based on parent-reported symptoms, 29% of children with MS experienced depression and 39% experienced behavioral problems16 – Suicide may be a risk factor for teens and adolescents living with MS24 |
The burden of illness in children begins early. Recognize the symptoms of MS and partner with a neurology colleague today.
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Follow the clues in your pediactric patients with this downloadable questionnaire about MS symptoms |
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Identifying MS early can make all the difference. Partner with a multidisciplinary care team, including a neurologist or pediatric neurologist, upon early suspicion of MS in your young patients. |
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