Abstract
Childhood multiple sclerosis (MS) is a rare demyelinating autoimmune disease with different risk factors and clinical features than adult onset MS. Onset of MS is extremely uncommon in early childhood, particularly in those less than 10 years of age. The overall prevalence of MS varies significantly from 1-10 in 100,000 people in Japan to 248 in 100,000 in Canada. At least 5% of all MS patients have their first attack before 16 years of age with a female to male ratio of 1.4:1. Overall, childhood MS is being increasingly recognized. In this paper, an updated overview of childhood MS will be presented in the context of the available literature and our experience. Research into the earliest events in MS pathogenesis is needed to enhance our information of this disease. As well, understanding the triggers and initial immunologic targets involved may lead to the development of new therapies. Prospective longitudinal studies are required to evaluate the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impact of childhood MS and the long term benefit of various therapeutic modalities.