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Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis in Children and Teens

If you’re a child or teen who just heard that you have multiple sclerosis, or the parent of a child who was recently diagnosed with the disease, you probably have a lot of questions.Let’s quickly answer some of the most common ones:
  • Is pediatric MS fatal? No.
  • Is there a cure? Not yet, but we’re working on it!
  • Did I do something to cause this? No. 
  • Is MS contagious? No.
  • Are my siblings (or my other kids) going to get MS? Probably not.
  • Can I continue to be active? Absolutely.
  • Will I need a wheelchair? Probably not.
  • Can I continue to go to school? Yes.
Now that we’ve gotten these scary questions out of the way, discover more information to empower you and your family to face this disease.
Kids Get MS, Too

Number of Children and Teens With MS

Pediatric MS refers to cases of MS occurring in people under age 18. Fewer than 5,000 children and teens live with MS in the United States and fewer than 10,000 in the world. MS can occur at any age, but pediatric MS is relatively rare.

Pediatric MS Symptoms

The symptoms of MS in children and teens are mostly similar to those in adults. However, children with MS:
  • Only have a relapsing-remitting course, with clear attacks (relapses) of symptoms that then go away (remit)
  • Have frequent relapses (possibly more than typically seen in adults)
  • Recover well and more quickly from relapses than adults, according to studies
TheKidsDoc app from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) may be useful during healthcare visits.

Multiple Sclerosis Age of Onset

Multiple studies have shown that MS rarely starts before the age of 16. Only 3%-5% of all people living with MS were diagnosed before age 16. Most MS diagnoses occur between the ages of 20 and 40. 

Diagnosing MS in Children

As with adult MS, no single symptom, physical finding or laboratory test can determine if you or your child has MS. Doctors use several strategies to diagnose MS:
  • Finding evidence of damage in at least 2 separate areas of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, AND
  • Finding evidence that the damage occurred at different points in time AND
  • Ruling out all other possible diagnoses.
Diagnosing MS in children is more challenging than in adults because of other childhood disorders that have similar symptoms, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a neurological disorder with brief attacks of brain and spinal cord inflammation that damages myelin. But, as with adults, it’s important to diagnose MS as early as possible to prevent disease progression.

Life for Kids With MS

If you or your child is living with MS, it is important to prioritize healthy behaviors, including:
  • Eating nutritious foods
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Keeping up with preventive care
  • Managing other medical conditions
  • Not vaping or smoking (for teenagers)
Research shows that these good habits contribute to overall health and some can even impact MS progression and lifespan.

Treatment for Pediatric MS

The treatment of MS in children and teens, as well as adults, involves several strategies:
  • Modifying the course of the disease
  • Managing relapses
  • Maximizing lifestyle interventions
  • Managing symptoms
Medications known as disease modifying therapies (DMTs) are effective at preventing relapses and disability accumulation. In May 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the oral MS therapy Gilenya® (fingolimod) for the treatment of children and adolescents 10 years of age or older with relapsing forms of MS. The FDA has approved more than a dozen DMTs to treat adults with relapsing forms of MS.Researchers have studied the use in children with MS of many of the medications used for adults. Skilled pediatric MS healthcare providers can adapt treatments that are FDA approved to treat adults for their younger patients.

Healthcare Providers for Pediatric MS

Finding a pediatric neurologist is critical for the care of children and teens with MS and related disorders. Using your zip code, you can search our directory for pediatric neurologists. Simply select “Healthcare Providers” as the category and “Pediatric Neurologist” for the support type. You can also contact an MS Navigator to find pediatric providers across the country.When a person with pediatric MS becomes an adult, their care will often transition from a pediatric MS provider to an adult MS provider. Questions or needs related to this transition will be different for everyone. Consider connecting to the Child Neurology Foundation Transition Care Program to make sure the transition is successful.

Pediatric MS Support

Managing the Costs of Pediatric MS

Research on Pediatric MS

Additional Resources

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© 2025 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its Identification Number (EIN) is 13-5661935.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is proud to be a source of information on multiple sclerosis related topics. Unless otherwise indicated, the information provided is based on professional advice, published experience and expert opinion. However, the information does not constitute medical or legal advice. For specific medical advice, consult a qualified physician. For specific legal advice, consult a qualified attorney.