Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

As a parent, please imagine that your child can not walk by the age of 12 and can not live until 20 years old. Since they discovered that their children are in the form of muscular dystrophy, this has become a reality for many parents. This particular type of muscular dystrophy is called Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is the most common and serious disease among all muscular dystrophies. It is found in 1 in 3,500 men and is characterized by progressive muscular atrophy.

You will often hear Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) together. BMD is another type of muscular dystrophy with symptoms like Duchenne, but it is a milder form. BMD is also caused by changes in the dystrophin gene, but dystrophin in patients with BMD is abnormal, but effective. This still causes muscle weakness and damage, but it is not as serious as Duchenne

Progression of Becker type muscular dystrophy is very variable and far exceeds Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Yet another form can be regarded as an intermediate between Duchenne and Becker MD (mild DMD or severe BMD). The severity of the disease can be indicated by the age of the patient at the onset of the disease. In one study it is suggested that Becker muscular dystrophy has two different modes of progression. It occurs around 7 to 8 years of age, indicating that heart involvement and stairs are more frequent after age 20. If the onset is about 12 years old, the heart will not be affected so much.

Becker type muscular dystrophy is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but it is not so serious. This type of muscular dystrophy is also more common in boys. Muscle weakness occurs mainly in the arms and legs, and symptoms occur between 11 and 25 years old. Other symptoms of Becker type muscular dystrophy are as follows. People can not stand up to sit or save lives. The life expectancy of this type also depends on the symptoms. Some patients with congenital muscular dystrophy die in infancy, others continue to live until adulthood