Historically multiple sclerosis (MS) has been viewed as an adult-onset disease and as a result the majority of MS research, services and support programmes have targeted adults.
Since the 1980s, however, an increasing number of cases of MS in children (under 18 years of age) have been recorded worldwide. Initial symptoms have been seen as early as 13 months old, with diagnosis as young as two years of age. Due to a raised awareness of childhood MS amongst neurologists and because of advances in technology, the number of children diagnosed with MS is steadily growing.
Nevertheless, as neurologists so rarely encounter childhood MS, diagnosis may be delayed or more difficult than for adult-onset disease. Because treatments have not been systematically studied, tested or approved for children, childhood MS is often treated in the same way as adult MS. This has highlighted the need for increased international collaboration and multi-centre studies on pediatric MS and related disorders.
The International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group is a global network of adult and pediatric neurologists, basic scientists, clinicians, representatives of MS societies and other relevant professional organisations, whose unifying vision is to optimise worldwide healthcare, education and research in pediatric multiple sclerosis (pMS) and other acquired inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).
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