INFECTIONS IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

A case-control study on multiple sclerosis was conducted in Western No rway during the years 1986-1988. Included were 155 persons with multip le sclerosis and 200 controls, marginally matched according to age, se x and area of residence. The mean age at measles infection was for the cases 6.6 years and for the controls 5.7 years (p = 0.06). The cases had more frequently experienced bronchitis and/or pneumonia in the age group 11-15 years (OR = 3.20, 95 % confidence interval 0.96-10.63). T onsillectomies were reported more frequently by the cases. The odds ra tio was especially high for those treated at age 0-6 years (OR = 3.44, 95 % confidence interval 1.63-7.27). The results are consistent with the idea of MS as an age-dependent host-immune response to infection d uring childhood or adolescence.