Epidemiological profile of multiple sclerosis in children under 10 years of age: Brazilian panorama from 2012 to 2022

*Correspondence: [e-mail].

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immunological disease that leads to demyelination, neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation of the central nervous system. Approximately 2-10% of individuals with MS experience their first episode as a child. MS progresses with fatigue, depression, seizures, impaired mobility and cognition. Studies around the world have shown that the diagnostic criteria for MS in the pediatric population have evolved considerably in the last decade, which contributes to early diagnosis.

Objective: To determine the panorama of Multiple Sclerosis cases in the Brazilian pediatric population.

Methods: This is an epidemiological and retrospective study. The database used was the Department of Informatics of the Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). Data were collected on April 23, 2023. In DATASUS, the field “Epidemiological and morbidity” was selected, and later, “SUS Hospital Morbity (SIH/SUS)”. Then, the option “General, by place of residence - from 2008 onwards” was chosen and as Geographic Coverage “Brazil by Region and Unit of the Federation”. The period analyzed comprises January 2012 to December 2022. Then, in the CID-10 morbidity list, the modality “Multiple sclerosis” was chosen. The “year of service” option was selected in the “line” field. After these selections, the categories “gender”, color/race” and “age group” were used. Patients aged up to 9 years were included. After collection, a percentage analysis of the acquired data was performed.

Results: In total, 96 hospitalizations were recorded in the period, 58.33% female and 41.66% male. As for race, 46.87% were brown, followed by 36.45% white, 15.625% unregistered and 1.04% black. The vast majority (91.66%) were aged between 5 and 9 years, followed by 1 to 4 (6.25%) and less than 1 year (2.08%). Regarding the location, the Southeast region concentrated the majority of admissions (56.25%), followed by the Northeast (19.79%), Midwest (13.54%), South (6.25%) and North (4.16%).

Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of Multiple Sclerosis in children under 10 years old in Brazil is the girl, brown, aged between 5 and 9 years old and residing in the southeast of the country.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2025