Muscular Dystrophy Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes …

Muscular Dystrophy: Introduction

Muscular dystrophy is a progressive genetic disorder that causes deterioration of the muscles and eventually leads to muscle wasting, muscle weakness, bone deformities and disability.

The progression and severity of muscular dystrophy varies greatly between individuals and the type of muscular dystrophy. There are nine types of muscular dystrophy, also called MD. The two most common types of muscular dystrophy include Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy.

The only difference between the two diseases are that the symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop earlier in life and progresses more quickly than they do in Becker muscular dystrophy, which begins about age seven. There are also many muscular diseases that are very similar to muscular dystrophy.

General symptoms of muscular dystrophy include muscle weakness and muscle wasting. This is due to the death of muscle cells and tissue, which are then replaced by fat and connective tissue. The muscle weakness often begins in the legs, but the disease eventually progresses to muscles in other parts of the body, resulting in serious complications, including difficulty breathing.

Muscular dystrophy is more common in boys than in girls. Symptoms often begin in infancy or early childhood but can start in adulthood in certain form of muscular dystrophy. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of muscular dystrophy.

Making a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy includes taking a thorough personal and family history, including symptoms, such as muscle weakness, and completing a physical and neurological examination. A neurological exam evaluates the nervous system and such functions as reflexes, sensation, movement, balance, coordination, vision and hearing.

A biopsy of the muscle tissue may be performed to diagnose muscular dystrophy. A biopsy involves taking a small sample or muscle to examine under a microscope to look for changes that are typical of muscular dystrophy. A blood test called a creatine phosphokinase and genetic testing may also be done.

Other tests may include an electromyography (EMG) which tests the electrical activity of muscles. A nerve conduction test may also be ordered to measure the ability of nerves to send electrical signals. This may be done to rule out other conditions.

A diagnosis of muscular dystrophy may be delayed because symptoms may progress slowly in some types of muscular dystrophy and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of muscular dystrophy.

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Muscular Dystrophy Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes ...