title: Multiple sclerosis and childhood infections.
abstract: There is evidence that some event in childhood may determine risk of multiple sclerosis: Elevated titers to measles and other childhood infections suggest a childhood infection. Therefore, childhood infections reported by 30 patients with multiple sclerosis and matched controls were compared. Patients reported a childhood infection between 5 and 9 years (not simply exposure to an infection) more often than controls. The mean age of measles peaked somewhat later (age 7) in patients than in controls (age 4); this differnce approached statistical significance (p less than 0.1). Evidence that host response to measles is age-dependent was reviewed. It was proposed that age of measles (rather than the fact of injection) may influence the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D009107:Mumps / Q000150:complications; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000150:complications; D012306:Risk; D012409:Rubella / Q000150:complications