Muscular Dystrophy
By: Nathan James Cummings
What are the physical features of a diseased individual?
A diseased individual develops muscle fatigue, joint stiffness, and poor coordination. For example being able to walk, breathe, or sit up is a struggle.
What are the emotional features?
People with this disease are affected physically, but because of the lack of mobility individuals get frustrated with themselves and their situation.
What are mental features?
The infected person will most likely have problem solving skills. Also, 1/3 of children develop learning disabilities.
When do people start to see symptoms?
An infected person usually starts to see symptoms around the age of 30, but with more severe cases it starts in early childhood.
Is it progressive or does it hit an individual all at once?
Since the disease slowly degenerates muscle over time the answer is that it is progressive.
What does it do to the life span of a person?
It decreases the life span slightly but this depends on how well you manage it. For example, being as active as you can can limit its effects on decreasing one's life span.
How much care does the individual need?
Constant care is required, considering how much their body is affected. It will be hard for the individual to do much of anything unless they take care of it.
Are there cures/treatments for the disease?
A certain type of steroid is being developed, which helps slow down the effects, but for now there is no cure.
What things can't the person do?
The individual will have trouble walking and their mobility of arms and breathing will be limited.
Are there precautions the individual should take to lessen the symptoms?
Doctors are working on a unique steroid like I said before, but at the moment no precautions will lessen the symptoms.
Do you need to make changes to your home?
Yes, because in the most common case a wheel chair is required, but besides that no other changes.
What kind of emotional support will be needed?
Be ready for lots of anger issues, and do not let the person be without a therapist.
Will the person need emotional support at school?
Yes, because bullies are still around, and also 1/3 of individuals will develop a learning disability.