investigating the profile of multiple sclerosis registry among iranian children: background, aims, design, and preliminary results

Background: according to previous reports, between 2%-5% of multiple sclerosis (ms) cases occur before the age of 16 years. objectives: this study aims to investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of ms in iranian children to provide diagnostic criteria for policymakers and physicians.methods: this study objectives are achieved in two phases. the first phase was conducted and the second phase is underway. the first phase was performed in one year to design and finalize a pediatric ms registry software. for this reason, all variables and registration methods were determined. the second phase which has been started since 2016 consists of a routine data registry in the national phase. the project information, including all cases, epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic factors is being reported based on different geographical areas of iran.results: we registered 932 cases with ms since 2017, of whom 74.4% were girls. there was no significant difference in mean age between girls and boys with ms (mean difference=0.73 years, p=0.133). most of the children who were diagnosed were between the ages of 15 to 18 years (52.4%).conclusions: the registry for ms in children in iran can improve the knowledge of health policymakers on the incidence of ms in children throughout the country, the first and most common symptoms of ms in children, raising physicians’ awareness about early diagnosis and treatment that consequently reduce the economic, psychological, and psychological burden of the disease.