Table 1 Characteristics of the pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) cases and controls

 Girl

8 (53 %)

7 (78 %)

15 (63 %)

 Boy

7 (47 %)

2 (22 %)

9 (38 %)

Age at stool sample collection, years: mean (SD; range)

11.9 years (SD = 4.64; 4–17)

13.8 years (SD = 3.19; 9–18)

12.6 years (SD = 4.18; 4–18)

  ≤ 12 years old

6 (40 %)

4 (44 %)

10 (42 %)

  > 12 years old

9 (60 %)

5 (56 %)

14 (58 %)

 White

5 (33 %)

6 (67 %)

11 (46 %)

 Non-white

10 (67 %)

3 (33 %)

13 (54 %)

 Hispanic

6 (40 %)

3 (33 %)

9 (38 %)

 Non- Hispanic

9 (60 %)

6 (67 %)

15 (63 %)

 Present

6 (40 %)

2 (22 %)

8 (33 %)

 Absent

9 (60 %)

7 (78 %)

16 (67 %)