| Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating | | | | Duchenne muscular dystrophy symptoms include |
| genetic disease that destroys the muscles and | | | | a progressive muscle wasting and weakness. It |
| leads to the formation of an abnormal type of | | | | will become harder and harder to function as the |
| muscle protein called dystrophin. Duchenne | | | | muscles shut down. It usually starts in the legs |
| muscular dystrophy symptoms include a | | | | and pelvis but works its way to all the muscles. |
| progressive muscle weakness and wasting among | | | | This is why a wheelchair is often necessary. |
| many other things. This disorder usually affects | | | | For those children with muscular dystrophy, |
| males but is passed on by their mothers. This is | | | | symptoms related to coordination may be a sign. |
| referred to X-linked recessives. | | | | A child who has trouble walking, falls frequently, |
| There are several types of muscular dystrophy | | | | and experiences calf pain may have MD. Other |
| (MD) including Becker's MD and limb-girdle MD. | | | | Duchenne muscular dystrophy symptoms include |
| However, Duchenne's MD is the most severe, and | | | | obesity, joint contractures, cataracts, baldness |
| the most common, unfortunately. | | | | and drooping eyelids. Some children also |
| This disease can come on quickly or slowly, in | | | | experience fatigue and mental retardation as a |
| children and in adults. However, according to | | | | result of this disease. |
| experts, 1 in every 3,600 male infants is affected | | | | This condition can worsen into something even |
| by Duchenne MD. The severity depends on the | | | | more. This may include cardiomypathy, |
| genetics and the type of MD. For example, a | | | | deformities, heart failure, mental impairments, |
| young boy with this condition will most likely be in | | | | pneumonia or respiratory failure. This is one of the |
| a wheelchair by the age of 12, and dead by the | | | | reasons that many sufferers of Duchenne's MD |
| age of 20. This is the devastating facts about this | | | | die at an extremely young age. |
| disease. | | | | |