Definition:
Myotonic dystrophy, also known as muscular dystrophy, is a progressive crippling illness presented by extreme muscle weakness until the affected person is confined to a wheelchair.
Diagnosis:
The condition is diagnosed via genetic testing.
Treatment:
Myotonic dystrophy has no direct treatment, physical and occupational therapies are recommended to make the muscles work.
Symptoms and Signs:
Depending on the kind of mytonic dystrophy, symptoms of muscle weakness and slow development of muscles are observed during a child's first few years of growth. Spinal deformities begin to occur at the pelvis up to the different muscle areas. Cataracts and other physical abnormalities develop as the patient ages.
Causes:
The disease is caused by a variety of reasons: it can be an X-linked recessive disorder, or an enzymatic deficiency.
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