How early can multiple sclerosis be detected?

by Patricia Silva, PhD | March 25, 2022

How early can multiple sclerosis be detected?

MS generally affects adults but it can be detected during childhood — a condition often referred to as pediatric MS, pediatric-onset MS (POMS), or early-onset MS. It is estimated that up to 5–10% of MS cases are diagnosed before the age of 16, with most of these patients receiving a diagnosis after age 10.

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About the Author

Patricia Silva, PhD Patrícia holds a PhD in medical microbiology and infectious diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal. Her work in academia was mainly focused on molecular biology and the genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites. Patrícia earned several travel awards to present her work at international scientific meetings. She is a published author of several peer-reviewed science articles.