Identifying Resources available for Children with Multiple Sclerosis and their Families

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disorder of the central nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the body, through its immune system, launches a defensive attack against its own tissues and can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating as contact between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted. MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other effectively. The initial symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are often blurred or double vision, poor contrast, eye pain, red-green color distortion, or even blindness in one eye. Most people with MS experience muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance. These symptoms may be severe enough to impair walking or standing. The worst cases of MS can produce partial or complete paralysis. Most people with MS also show par aesthesis, transitory abnormal sensory feelings such as numbness, prickling, or “pins and needles” sensations. Some people may also experience tremors, pain, dizziness, hearing loss and speech impediments. Many people with MS experience cognitive impairments such as difficulties with concentration, attention, memory, and poor judgment but such symptoms are usually mild and are frequently overlooked. Depression and anxiety is another common feature of multiple sclerosis. There is no effective cure for Multiple Sclerosis yet. Most of the patients do well with no therapy at all, especially since many medications have serious side effects and some carry significant risks. The Food and Drug Administration has approved three forms of Beta Interferon which has been reported to reduce the number of symptoms and may slow the progression of physical disability. When attacks