Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a sex-linked chromosomal disorder that leads to progressive weakness of the muscles. Usually, the voluntary groups of muscles are more involved in MD. In the advanced stages of MD, muscle fibers are substituted with the fat and connective tissues making the muscle fibers weaker making them prone to damage even after a trivial injury. There is no definitive treatment for MD and in most of the cases, death occurs due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. There are nine types of MD – Becker’s MD, Duchenne MD, Congenital MD, Peripheral MD, Limb-girdle MD, Emery – Dreifuss MD, Fascioscapulohumeral MD, Occulopharyngeal MD and Myotonic Dystrophy.

The symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy according to its classification include:

Muscular Dystrophy

Source – easystand

• Becker’s MD is the milder form of MD. It affects human at their later adolescent stages or in early adult life. There is slow progression of weakness of the muscles of hands and legs. During the later stages of this disease, the person develops waddling and unstable gait. Weakness of the muscles of the lower limbs prevents the patient to run, jumping or climbing staircases.

• Duchenne MD is the worst for of MD. It affects the human during childhood and can appear as early as during the second year of life. The proximal muscles of the hands and legs along with the muscles of the pelvis are primarily affected. The progression of the weakness is constant and rapid than the other forms of MD. Most patients die during their second or early third decade of life due to weakness of the respiratory muscles, recurrent lung infections and problems in pumping action of the heart. Weak muscles of the vertebral column will lead to stooped posture. There is contracture of the calf muscles. By the age of 12-15 years, most of the patients require wheelchair. During the later part of the second decade, most of the patients require some support in respiration.

• Peripheral MD is a milder form of the disease where the weakness is located in the small muscles of the hands and feet. Fine motor skills like threading a needle, playing the pianos are hampered. Peripheral MD does not affect life span of a person.

• Congenital MD is another severe form of MD where the weakness of the muscles is noticed during neonatal life. The baby is not able to suckle properly; there is weakness of the diaphragm leading to frequent respiratory infections. Most of the patients die during their childhood.

• Limb-girdle MD, as the name suggests, affects the muscles of the trunk. This is a slow progressive disorder. There are contractures of the upper and lower limbs. Difficult rotational movements of the arms and legs affect normal living.

• Myotonic Dystrophy can lead to drooping of the eyelids, weakness of the muscles of the face; difficulty is grasping, cataracts, dry skin, testicular atrophy, baldness, mental retardation and irregular heartbeat.

• In Occulopharyngeal MD, the weakness is confined in the intraocular muscles and muscles present in the throat. This is again a milder form of the disease.

• Symptoms of Emery – Dreifuss MD and Fascioscapulohumeral MD vary. They are similar to other forms of MD but the intensity.

It is essential to recognize the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy at an early stage so that necessary help can be provided to the patient for a better living.

Author – Dr. Anupam Biswas