The young person's guide to MS Will I get MS?
Does it run in families?
Because my mum has MS is it likely my brother and I will get it in the future?
Will I get MS?
Could I be a carrier?
MS is not very common.
In the UK the chance of having MS is about 1 in 700.
As a comparison, around 1 in 200 people are allergic to nuts and 1 in 50 people are allergic to the antibiotic penicillin.
Usually a person with MS doesn't know anybody else in his or her whole family who has MS too. However, occasionally more than one member of the same family does have MS, but this is rare.
If your mum or dad has MS, there is a slightly higher risk of you getting MS than someone who does not have MS in his or her family - but remember, the increase in risk is very small.
"I now look for minor signs in my life and wonder if I'm developing MS, I look for symptoms my mum had."
Leanne, 17
"I wonder whether anyone else in our family will get it because of nan and mum having it."
Amanda, 11
"I worry that it could have been passed down to me."
Tom, 16
"For all I know, my children in later life, or I or my brothers, could get it."
Helen, 14