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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

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Definition & SymptomsCauses & Risk FactorsTests & DiagnosticsTreatmentsAlternative TherapiesComplicationsPrevention

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Definition

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves rapidly-worsening muscle weakness.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy. They may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Mental retardation (possible, but does not worsen over time)
  • Muscle weakness
    • Begins in the legs and pelvis, but also occurs less severely in the arms, neck, and other areas of the body
    • Difficulty with motor skills (running, hopping, jumping)
    • Frequent falls
    • Rapidly worsening weakness
  • Progressive difficulty walking
    • Ability to walk may be lost by age 12

By age 10, the person may need braces for walking. By age 12, most patients are confined to a wheelchair.

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