What is Multiple Sclerosis?

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disease and the most common neurological disease diagnosed in young adults. Multiple ...more »

• Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmune attack on spinal nerves causing diverse and varying neural problems.
• Multiple Sclerosis: chronic disease characterized by presence of numerous areas of demyelination in the central nervous system with symptoms such as weakness, incoordination, paresthesis, and speech disturbances; the etiology is unknown.
  Source - Diseases Database
• Multiple Sclerosis: a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Multiple Sclerosis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Multiple Sclerosis: Introduction

Types of Multiple Sclerosis:

Types of Multiple Sclerosis:

• Schilder's Disease
• more types...»

Broader types of Multiple Sclerosis:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Sclerosis
• Neuromuscular disease
• Brain conditions
• Demyelinating disorder
• Spinal Cord Disorders
• Coordination and balance conditions
• Nervous system conditions
• Movement conditions
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Muscle conditions
• Systemic conditions
• Autoimmune conditions
• Immune system conditions
• more types...»

How many people get Multiple Sclerosis?

Prevalance of Multiple Sclerosis: 1-in-700 (NIAID)
Prevalance Rate of Multiple Sclerosis: approx 1 in 700 or 0.14% or 388,571 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis afflicts 1 in 700 people in this country. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)

Who gets Multiple Sclerosis?

Patient Profile for Multiple Sclerosis: Young adults, usually age 20-40.

Gender Profile for Multiple Sclerosis: Women 2:1 (NWHIC)

How serious is Multiple Sclerosis?

Prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis: Variable. Ranging from mild to very serious, depending on exactly which nerves are attacked. Average survival is 35 years after diagnosis. A rare form of acute MS can be fatal quickly.
Complications of Multiple Sclerosis: see complications of Multiple Sclerosis
Prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis: The cause of MS remains elusive, but most people with MS have a normal life expectancy. The vast majority of MS patients are mildly affected, but in the worst cases, MS can render a person unable to write, speak, or walk. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Multiple Sclerosis Information Page: NINDS) ... Most commonly, damage to the central nervous system occurs intermittently, allowing a person to lead a fairly normal life. At the other extreme, the symptoms may become constant, resulting in a progressive disease with possible blindness, paralysis, and premature death. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)

What causes Multiple Sclerosis?

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis: see causes of Multiple Sclerosis
Cause of Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmune destruction of myelin that surrounds spinal cord nerves.
Risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis: see risk factors for Multiple Sclerosis

What are the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis?

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis: see symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Complications of Multiple Sclerosis: see complications of Multiple Sclerosis

Can anyone else get Multiple Sclerosis?

Contagion of autoimmunity: generally not; see details in contagion of autoimmune diseases.

Multiple Sclerosis: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Multiple Sclerosis.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Multiple Sclerosis.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis: see treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
Research for Multiple Sclerosis: see research for Multiple Sclerosis

Society issues for Multiple Sclerosis

Hospitalization statistics for Multiple Sclerosis: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Multiple Sclerosis:

• 0.129% (16,411) of hospital consultant episodes were for multiple sclerosis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 90% of hospital consultant episodes for multiple sclerosis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 31% of hospital consultant episodes for multiple sclerosis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 69% of hospital consultant episodes for multiple sclerosis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 23% of hospital consultant episodes for multiple sclerosis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more statistics...»

Organs Affected by Multiple Sclerosis:

Organs and body systems related to Multiple Sclerosis include:

• Nerves
• Muscles
• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Myelin

Name and Aliases of Multiple Sclerosis

Main name of condition: Multiple Sclerosis

Class of Condition for Multiple Sclerosis: autoimmune

MS

MS Source - Diseases Database

MS, Disseminated sclerosis, Disseminated multiple sclerosis
Source - WordNet 2.1

Multiple Sclerosis: Related Conditions

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Multiple Sclerosis:

• Optic neuritis
• Encephalomyelitis
• Devic's disease
• Schilder's sclerosis
• Marburg multiple sclerosis
• Hypoaesthesia
• Paraesthesia
• Muscle spasms
• Dysarthria

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