Multiple Sclerosis is a complex and unpredictable condition, which varies from person to person and does not follow a set pattern. Symptoms can come and go from day to day but there can also be relapses followed by periods of complete or partial remission. A relapse is a significant worsening or a return of symptoms lasting for anything from a few days to a few months. Relapses are also referred to as exacerbations, episodes and attacks.

 

A remission is a period of recovery, when symptoms become less severe or disappear altogether. MS is often divided into four different types with differing degrees of severity. It is not usually possible to determine which type of MS is present at diagnosis - this will only become apparent over time. Some early symptoms, particularly those affecting sight and sensation, suggest a more positive long-term outlook or prognosis. However, it is impossible to say with any certainty how the MS will develop.

 

It is important to remember that whatever the type of MS, the most common disabling disease of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) affecting young adults, it is unlikely to shorten lifespan. While MS is usually diagnosed in those between 20 and 40, with more females than males being affected, and is more prevalent in those who live in latitudes further from the equator, it can strike anybody. MS is neither infectious nor contagious and is not a fatal condition.

 

At present, there is no cure for MS but this doesn't mean that MS cannot be treated. If you would like more information on MS, please visit the web sites listed below; these web sites are all user friendly and you will likely find the answer to your question on MS.