February
13th to 18thevery year is observed worldwide as “Duchenne
Muscular DystrophyAwareness Week” in favour of supporting those children
suffering with thisprogressive genetic disorder.
What is Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy?
DMD
is caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. It leads to a disruption in the
body’s ability to produce dystrophin. Dystrophin is a protein that everyone
needs for muscle health. As dystrophin production decreases, muscles become
weaker. Over the time, muscles deteriorate, resulting in physical disability. It
primarily affects boys, but girls who carry the defective gene may show some
symptoms.The average lifespan for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is 18 to 25
years. With early treatment, it can reach 30 years. But recent technological
advances have made it possible to improve treatment. As a result, people living
with the disease live better and longer.The genetic disease DMD is a
degenerative, progressive condition.
Both muscle function and strength suffer. Doctors identify the condition
before age five due to its hereditary origin.In children, early signs include
developmental delays in sitting, standing, and walking. They display
progressive muscle weakness. Most children require a wheelchair by the age of
13. As they grow, other areas of health are impacted, such as the heart and
lungs.
Duchenne
life expectancy varies from person to person, just like other diseases.
Patients with DMD, however, have a shorter life expectancy. Respiratory or
cardiac issues are to blame. The average lifespan for Duchenne muscular
dystrophy is 18 to 25 years. With early treatment, it can reach 30 years.Until
now, there has been no cure for this life limiting disorder. But there is a lot
of voluntary research underway. They aim to find drug therapies. They can lengthen
a person’s life and enhance their quality of life if they have DMD.It is a rare
fatal disease with a global prevalence of 1 in 3,000 to 5,000 in male births
while 1 in 7,000 female births.Patients with DMD usually lose the ability to
walk by the age of 12.
