Increasing Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in Tunisia

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Published Jun 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i6.5503
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Vol. 103 No. 6 (2025): Tunis Med June 2025

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Saloua Mrabet
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Hager Aounallah-Skhiri
National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Tunis, SURVEN (Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology in Tunisia), Research Laboratory, INNTA, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Amira Souissi
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Youssef Abida
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Imen Kacem
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Amina Gargouri
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
Riadh Gouider
Department of Neurology, LR 18SP03, Clinical Investigation Center Neurosciences and Mental Health, University Hospital Razi- Manouba, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract





Data on the prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Tunisia come back more than twenty years ago. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of MS in Tunisia and to discuss the determining factors of its current status. The results suggested a trend towards an increase in the prevalence of MS in Tunisia reaching 58.3 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2020. It ranks Tunisia in a high prevalence MS zone but is still lower than that in the western countries and some MENA countries. The determining factors of this new MS prevalence need to be investigated to insure better management of healthcare resources.


 





Keywords:

Epidemiology, Tunisia, North Africa, multiple sclerosis, Prevalence

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