Health's Book

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
o Begins in the legs and pelvis, but also occurs less severely in the arms, neck, and other areas of the body
o Difficulty with motor skills (running, hopping, jumping)
o Frequent falls
o Rapidly worsening weakness
* Progressive difficulty walking
o 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.