Hanefeld Folker
Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Neurology. 2007 Apr 17;68(16 Suppl 2):S3-6. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000259419.96311.54.
Shortly after multiple sclerosis (MS) was described by Charcot in 1872-1873, symptoms of MS were noted in children. At the time of these observations (late 19th century), the many inherited demyelinating diseases that manifest during childhood had not yet been recognized. Once the inherited demyelinating disorders became known, MS as a childhood disease was dismissed as a possible diagnosis. Only a half century later, with increased understanding of both inherited leukodystrophies as well as MS, was it acknowledged that children can develop MS. Our present challenges in the differential diagnoses of demyelinating disorders presenting in childhood are reflected in the history of pediatric MS.
1872年至1873年间夏科氏描述了多发性硬化症（MS）后不久，儿童MS症状就被发现。在这些观察期间（19世纪后期），许多在儿童期表现出的遗传性脱髓鞘疾病尚未被认识。一旦遗传性脱髓鞘疾病为人所知，MS作为一种儿童疾病就被排除在可能的诊断之外。仅仅半个世纪后，随着对遗传性脑白质营养不良以及MS的认识增加，人们才认识到儿童也会患MS。儿童MS的历史反映了我们目前在儿童期出现的脱髓鞘疾病鉴别诊断方面所面临的挑战。
