Heat, fever, infection, fatigue, and stress can increase the severity of symptoms. The severity of a child’s symptoms may change from day to day, and even from hour to hour. Each of these variations in symptom severity is not considered to be a relapse. A symptom must last for more than 24 hours to be considered a relapse.
Secondary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
As they age into adulthood, children with relapsing-remitting MS may transition into secondary-progressive MS. This is when the disease begins to progress more steadily, without alternating periods of relapse and remission.
Adults usually transition to secondary-progressive MS about 7 to 10 years after diagnosis. However, children with MS transition more slowly, entering this stage about 20 years after diagnosis. With the availability of MS therapies, this transition may be even further forestalled.
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