MS in teenagers is rarer than MS in adults. Patients below 18 years account for 5% of MS cases, but note that these include cases of multiple sclerosis in teenagers and in younger children. It is worthwhile asking to what degree the low prevalence of MS in children and adolescents can be explained by under-diagnosis of the condition in this age group. Because it is typical to think of MS as an adults’ disease, and because information about MS in under-eighteens has traditionally been underemphasized, it is possible that a significant number of children and teenagers with MS have been misdiagnosed.

Disseminating Information about MS in Teenagers

The best way to combat the likelihood of misdiagnosis or under-diagnosis is to spread awareness among medical professionals and members of the general public about MS in teenagers and in children. An aware medical professional is more likely than an oblivious …