Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the nervous system by damaging the myelin sheath around the nerve cells. It can eventually attack the nerve cells themselves. Damage to the myelin and the nerve cells can impede communication between the brain and other parts of the body, which leads to the development of MS symptoms. Although more common among adults, MS can begin during childhood, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society mentions in information released in August 2008 that between 8,000 and 10,000 Americans under the age of 18 have MS.
Lethargy and Seizures
A child with MS may experience a change in his mental status as a symptom of the disease. He may become lethargic and slower in the performance of his normal mental processes. If the damage to the myelin or nerve cells results in abnormal discharges of electricity in the brain, a child may experience seizures. Seizures and lethargy are symptoms of MS that rarely occur in adults.
Fatigue and Problems With Vision
Approximately 80 percent of those with MS experience fatigue as a symptom of the disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In some children, fatigue may appear as the most prominent sign of MS, but parents should understand that no individual symptom can confirm that a child has the disease. A doctor must make a diagnosis to confirm that a child has MS. Sometimes the initial symptoms of MS are vision problems such as blurred sight or double vision.
Numbness, Pain and Difficulty Walking
Often children may experience numbness in the arms, legs, body or face as the first symptom of MS. More than half may experience significant pain, notes the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS often affects a person's ability to move around normally, and a child may experience difficulties when trying to walk. She may find that she has problems coordinating the movement of the different parts of her body.
Bladder and Bowel Functions
More than 80 percent of those with MS suffer from bladder problems, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A child may experience a need for frequent urination during the night; she may experience a more frequent and more urgent need to urinate during the day, or she may be unable to hold in urine. Bowel problems that can be symptoms of MS include constipation, diarrhea and inability to control bowels.
References
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Pediatric (Child) MS
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Symptoms
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: About MS--Bladder Dysfunction
- Medline Plus: Multiple Sclerosis
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Multiple Sclerosis--Hope Through Research
