Multiple sclerosis in childhood

Childhood multiple sclerosis (MS) cannot be considered a rare disease since it constitutes about 5% of all MS-cases. A survey of cases in Germany showed over 150 new cases of definite or probable childhood MS from 1997 to 1999, the reel incidence of MS in childhood is most probably even higher. principally adult and childhood MS are the some disease but there ore important differences in possible differential diagnoses, symptoms, clinical course and therapy It is especially interesting that the prognosis in childhood MS appears to he better than in adult MS, mainly as a consequence of the lower percentage of primary and secondary progressive courses. Despite the better prognosis in childhood MS, a consequent immunosuppressive treatment of acute attacks as well as immunomodulatory therapy at the proper point in time to slow down the progression of the disease are recommended. The potential benefits of immunomodulation have to be balanced against the presently unknown long-term risks of such a therapy early in life.