Overview

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a  rear genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness due to the alterations of a protein called dystrophin that helps keep muscle cells intact. It predominantly affects males, Muscle weakness becomes increasingly noticeable between the ages of 3 and 5, and most patients use a wheelchair by the time they are 12. During adolescence, heart and breathing muscles weaken, leading to serious, life-threatening complications. Duchenne is caused by a change or mutation in the gene that encodes instructions for creating dystrophin, an essential protein for muscle strength. Dystrophin is a protein that plays a key structural role in muscle fiber function. In healthy muscle, dystrophin interacts with other proteins at the cell membrane to stabilize and protect the cell during regular activity involving muscle contraction and relaxation. Genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis and identify the disease-causing mutation in the dystrophin gene.

Individuals with Duchenne produce little or no dystrophin in their muscle.

Without dystrophin, normal activity causes excessive damage to muscle cells, and over time is replaced with fat and fibrotic tissue. DMD carriers are females who have a normal dystrophin gene on one X chromosome and an abnormal dystrophin gene on the other X chromosome. Most carriers of DMD do not themselves have signs and symptoms of the disease, but a minority do. Symptoms can range from mild skeletal muscle weakness or cardiac involvement to severe weakness or cardiac effects and can begin in childhood or adulthood. boys with DMD usually did not survive much beyond their teen years. Thanks to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy is increasing and many young adults with DMD attend college, have careers, get married, and have children. Survival into the early 30s is becoming more common than before.DMD treatment requires multidisciplinary care to coordinate the multiple specialized assessments and interventions needed to maximize function and quality of life for patients. The use of available treatments can help to maintain comfort and function and prolong life. physicians can help create individualized care plans regarding all medical and assistive aspects DMD patients require.

Signs and Symptoms

DMD causes muscle weakness that worsens over time, so common symptoms include:

• Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy (loss of muscle bulk) that begins in your child’s legs and pelvis. It occurs less severely in their arms, neck and other areas of their body.
• Calf muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size).
• Difficulty climbing up stairs.
• Difficulty walking that gets worse over time.
• Frequent falls.
• Waddling gait (walk).
• Toe walking.
• Fatigue.

Other common symptoms of DMD include:

• Cardiomyopathy.
• Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath.
• Cognitive impairment and learning differences.
• Delayed speech and language development.
• Developmental delay.
• Scoliosis (spine curvature).
• Short stature (height).

Cause

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a change (mutation) in the gene that gives instructions for a protein called dystrophin. Dystrophin is a critical part of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC), which plays an important role as a structural unit of muscle.

In DMD, both dystrophin and DGC proteins are missing, which ultimately leads to the death (necrosis) of muscle cells. People with DMD have less than 5% of the normal quantity of dystrophin needed for healthy muscles.

As people with DMD age, their muscles can’t replace the dead cells with new ones, and connective and adipose (fat) tissue gradually replaces muscle fibers.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy has X-linked recessive inheritance, but about 30% of cases happen spontaneously without a family history of the condition.

X-linked means the gene responsible for DMD is located on the X chromosome, one of two sex chromosomes. Males have an X and Y chromosome, and females have two X chromosomes.

Genes, like chromosomes, usually come in pairs. Recessive means that when there are two copies of the responsible gene, both copies must have a disease-causing change (pathogenic variant or mutation) for a person to have the condition. Since males only have one X chromosome, if that chromosome has the genetic variant that causes DMD, they’ll have DMD

Diagnosis

If your child is experiencing symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), your child’s healthcare provider will likely perform a physical exam, neurological exam and muscle exam. They’ll ask detailed questions about your child’s symptoms and medical history.

If your child’s provider suspects that your child may have DMD, they’ll likely order the following tests:

• Creatine kinase blood test: Your muscles release creatine kinase when they’re damaged, so elevated levels may indicate DMD. Levels typically peak by age 2 and can be more than 10 to 20 times above the normal range.
• Genetic blood test: A genetic blood test that looks for a complete or near-complete absence of the dystrophin gene can confirm the diagnosis of DMD.
• Muscle biopsy: Your child’s provider may take a small sample of their muscle tissue from a muscle in their thigh or calf. A specialist will then look at the sample under a microscope to look for signs of DMD.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): As DMD almost always affects your heart, your child’s provider will likely perform an EKG to look for characteristic signs of DMD and to check the health of your child’s heart.

Management and Treatment

There’s no cure for Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD), so the main goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Supportive therapies for DMD include:

• Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids, such as prednisolone and deflazacort, are beneficial for delaying muscle strength loss, improving lung function, delaying scoliosis, slowing the progression of cardiomyopathy (heart weakness) and prolonging survival.
• Medication to treat cardiomyopathy: Early treatment with ACE inhibitors and/or beta-blockers may slow the progression of cardiomyopathy and prevent the onset of heart failure.
• Physical therapy: The main goal of physical therapy for DMD is to prevent contractures (permanent tightening of your muscles, tendons and skin). This usually involves certain stretching exercises.
• Surgery to help treat scoliosis and contractures: Surgery to release contractures may be necessary for severe cases. Surgery to correct scoliosis may improve lung and breathing function.
• Exercise: Your child’s healthcare provider will likely recommend gentle exercise to avoid muscle atrophy due to a lack of use. This is usually a combination of swimming pool and recreation-based exercises.

Other supportive therapies for DMD include:

• Mobility aids, such as braces, canes and wheelchairs.
• Tracheostomy and assisted ventilation for respiratory failure.

With improvement in supportive care over the years, the life expectancy of DMD has significantly improved over the past few decades. so, If you’re concerned about the risk of passing on DMD or other genetic conditions before trying to have a biological child, talk to your healthcare provider about genetic counseling. In some situations, prenatal testing may be able to diagnose DMD in early pregnancy.

Conclusion:

Finally if your loved ones are planning for parenthood in late 30s we would suggest you genetic counselling , also you can connect us via email : query@gtsmeditour.com or whatsapp us +91 9880149003 and get complete health check package from our hospitals in India . early diagnosis and treatment can save life and bring quality of life to the patient.

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Overview

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world. If you have epilepsy, surges of electrical activity in your brain can cause recurring seizures. coming to Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), formerly known as nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, is a form of focal epilepsy characterized by seizures which arise during sleep. The seizures are most typically characterized by complex motor behaviors. This disorder is associated with cognitive impairment in at least half of patients as well as excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep quality. This disorder is sometimes misdiagnosed as a non-epileptic sleep disorder. There are many potential causes of SHE including genetic, acquired injuries and structural abnormalities. In 1981, Lugaresi and Cirignotta described a group of 5 patients with paroxysmal attacks of violent movements of the extremities and dystonic-tonic posturing. It was initially uncertain whether these events constituted seizures or something else. However, the patients had a good clinical response to the anti-seizure medication carbamazepine. Ultimately, the epileptic nature of this condition was confirmed with EEG and suggested that they were coming from the frontal lobe. The term “nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy” was suggested as a name for this condition. Later in 2014, a consensus conference recommended that the name be changed to sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy. There were three main justifications for this change: (1) not all seizures arise from the frontal lobe; (2) seizures do not necessarily occur during the night but rather from sleep; (3) hypermotor describes the most common visible clinical manifestation of the seizures. Although there is no known cure for epilepsy, developments in treatment have made it possible for most people to achieve seizure control. The first treatment step is usually to find the right medicine or Anti-Epileptic Drug (AED). If seizures continue to happen, other treatments like devices, dietary therapies, or surgery can help control seizures.

Symptoms

Seizures in SHE are brief and usually have an abrupt onset and offset.The observable clinical manifestations may consist of rapid, hyperkinetic movements as well as tonic/dystonic posturing of the limbs.Other potential manifestations include brief arousals from sleep or wandering ambulatory behavior. Non-motor manifestations (such as sensory or emotional phenomenon) are common and retained awareness during seizures may occur. Seizures usually occur during non-REM sleep. The frequency of seizures can be very high and as many as dozens may occur every night which results in poor sleep quality. In addition, many patients with SHE suffer from cognitive impairment and have behavioral/psychological problems. There are many risks associated with nocturnal seizures including concussion, suffocation and sudden unexpected death (SUDEP).

Causes

Approximately 86% of SHE cases are sporadic, 14% of patients have a family history of epilepsy and 5% are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner (i.e. autosomal dominant sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy). Both genetic, structural and multifactorial etiologies can occur. In structural cases, the most common pathology is focal cortical dysplasia.^[10]

The first described mutation in SHE was found in genes coding for the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.Since then multiple other genes have been identified including KCNT1, DEPDC5, NPRL2, NPRL3, PRIMA1, CABP4, CRH and others. In some cases, structural and genetic etiologies can coexist such as with mutations in DEPDC5.

Diagnosis

Overview

Myasthenia gravis is a disease-causing fluctuating weakness of muscles like that of the limbs, swallowing and eye movement muscles. Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune type) happens when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Myasthenia gravis affects how your nerves communicate with your muscles. It leads to muscle weakness that worsens throughout the day and with activity. Drooping eyelids and/or double vision are often the first sign Researchers aren’t sure why this happens. Studies suggest that certain immune system cells in your thymus gland have trouble identifying what’s a threat to your body (like bacteria or viruses) versus healthy components. A genetic changes causes congenital myasthenia. Antibodies passed from a birthing parent to a fetus during pregnancy cause neonatal myasthenia. Medications and surgery can help relieve the symptoms of this lifelong illness. Treatment includes medications  that can reduce your symptoms. Monoclonal antibodies: Doctor will give intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SQ) infusions of biologically engineered proteins. These proteins suppress an overactive immune system, Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis): An IV connected to a machine removes harmful antibodies from your blood plasma and replaces them with donor plasma or a plasma solution.  Last option is  thymectomy surgery is done to remove the thymus gland.

Causes

Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune type) happens when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens. Studies suggest that certain immune system cells in your thymus gland have trouble identifying what’s a threat to your body (like bacteria or viruses) versus healthy components.

A genetic change causes congenital myasthenia. Antibodies passed from a birth mother to a fetus during pregnancy cause neonatal myasthenia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of myasthenia gravis may include:

• Muscle weakness in your arms, hands, fingers, legs and neck.
• Fatigue.
• Droopy eyelids (ptosis).
• Blurry or double vision.
• Limited facial expressions.
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing or chewing.
• Trouble walking.

Initial symptoms of myasthenia gravis happen suddenly. Your muscles usually get weaker when you’re active. Muscle strength returns when you rest. The intensity of muscle weakness often changes from day to day. Most people feel strongest at the start of the day and weakest at the end of the day.

In rare instances, myasthenia gravis affects muscles in your respiratory system. You may have shortness of breath or more serious breathing problems. Contact 911 or your local emergency services number if you have trouble breathing. In general, this doesn’t occur suddenly.

Types of myasthenia gravis

The types of myasthenia gravis include:

• Autoimmune myasthenia: It’s an autoimmune condition where the cause isn’t well understood but the likely cause is the production of certain types of antibodies (immune system proteins). This is the most common type.
• Neonatal myasthenia: A fetus gets certain antibodies from their birth mother who has myasthenia gravis. An infant may have a weak cry or sucking reflex at birth. These temporary symptoms usually go away after three months.
• Congenital myasthenia: It isn’t an autoimmune condition, and a genetic change causes this type.

There are two subtypes of autoimmune myasthenia:

• Ocular: The muscles that move your eyes and eyelids weaken. Your eyelids may droop, or you may not be able to keep your eyes open. Some people have double vision. Eye weakness is often the first sign of myasthenia. Ocular myasthenia gravis may evolve into the generalized form for nearly half of all people diagnosed with this type.
• Generalized: Muscle weakness affects your eye muscles and others in your face, neck, arms, legs and throat. You may find it difficult to speak or swallow, lift your arms over your head, stand up from a seated position, walk long distances and climb stairs.

Risk factors for myasthenia gravis include:

Myasthenia gravis is most common among females around age 40 and males after age 60. The condition can affect anyone at any age.

You may be more at risk of developing myasthenia gravis if you:

• Have a history of other autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
• Have thyroid disease.

If you have myasthenia gravis, your symptoms could trigger (start) if you:

• Take medications for malaria and heart arrhythmias.
• Underwent surgery.
• Had an infection.

Diagnosis and Tests

Testing confirms a diagnosis. It may include:

• Blood antibody tests: About 85% of people with myasthenia gravis have unusually high levels of acetylcholine receptor antibodies in their blood. Approximately 6% of people diagnosed have muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) antibodies.
• Imaging scans: An MRI or CT scan can check for thymus gland problems like tumors.
• Electromyography (EMG): An EMG measures the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. This test detects communication problems between nerves and muscles.

Myasthenia gravis stages

There are five main classifications of myasthenia gravis that your healthcare provider may use during a diagnosis:

• Class I: Muscle weakness only affects your eyes (ocular muscle).
• Class II: Muscle weakness is mild.
• Class III: Muscle weakness is moderate.
• Class IV: Muscle weakness is severe.
• Class V: Severe muscle weakness affects how you breathe. You may need intubation or mechanical ventilation.

Management and Treatment

There’s no cure for myasthenia gravis. But effective treatment is available to help manage your symptoms. Treatments may include:

• Medications: Certain medications can reduce your symptoms.
• Monoclonal antibodies: You’ll receive intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SQ) infusions of biologically engineered proteins. These proteins suppress an overactive immune system.
• Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis): An IV connected to a machine removes harmful antibodies from your blood plasma and replaces them with donor plasma or a plasma solution.
• IV or SQ immunoglobulin (IVIG or SCIG): You’ll receive IV infusions of donor antibodies over two to five days. IVIG or SCIG can treat myasthenia crisis, as well as generalized myasthenia gravis.
• Surgery: A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland.

To conclude, if you come across any of your friend or loved one looking for treatment abroad you can reach us at query@gtsmeditour.com or whatsapp us on +91 9880149003 and get a free medical opinion .

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Overview

Porencephaly is a structural abnormality of the brain. It may manifest before or after birth. It is a very rare disorder that affects your central nervous system, children with this condition develop fluid-filled cavities, or cysts, on their brain. These brain cysts can delay and impair your child’s growth and development. These cysts can interfere with normal brain growth and development. Children with porencephaly may experience speech difficulties. They may also have other neurological deficits (abnormal functioning in areas of their body).However, on rare occasions, it can be related to an inherited genetic condition. There is no clear cure for porencephaly. However, there are many ways to manage its effects. Treatments focus on improving neurological impairments. If hydrocephalus is present, excess fluid around your child’s brain can be drained.

SYMPTOMS

Possible symptoms include: 

• Motor delay (differences in muscle tone, movement, posture, or developmental milestones) 
• Speech and language delay 
• Learning challenges 
• Cognitive or intellectual differences 
• Slow overall growth 
• Developmental delays in multiple areas (global delays) 
• Seizures 
• Spastic hemiplegia (stiffness and weakness in limbs)  
• Hypotonia (low muscle tone) 
• Macrocephaly (large head) 
• Microcephaly (small head) 
• Hydrocephalus (increased pressure in the brain) 

Causes

With a lack of oxygen or bleeding in your child’s brain, fluid-filled cysts can replace normal brain tissue. This is more likely to happen if the following risk factors are present:

• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy.
• Gestational diabetes.
• Infection during pregnancy.
• Infection shortly after birth.
• Trauma during birth.
• Other causes of stroke or lack of oxygen to their brain (like blood disorders and metabolic diseases). Sometimes, healthcare providers can find clues about the underlying cause based on the location, size and distribution of the cysts.

• Some types of porencephaly are genetic and can be inherited. This means that a person only needs one abnormal gene copy to show symptoms. The abnormal gene can be inherited from a mother or father. A person with a COL4A1 or COL4A2 gene mutation has a 50 percent chance of passing on condition. Two people with the same mutation may have very different symptom severity.  

Diagnosis

To confirm a diagnosis of porencephaly, your healthcare provider needs to see detailed images of your child’s brain. You or your child may have imaging tests like:

• Prenatal ultrasound or ultrasound.
• CT scan.
• MRI.

Management and Treatment

Outlook

Overview

Ataxia describes poor muscle control that causes clumsy movements. It can affect walking and balance, hand coordination, speech and swallowing, and eye movements.

Ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain called the cerebellum or its connections. The cerebellum controls muscle coordination. Many conditions can cause ataxia, including genetic conditions, stroke, tumors, multiple sclerosis, degenerative diseases and alcohol misuse. Certain medicines also can cause ataxia. If ataxia is caused by a condition such as vitamin deficiency or celiac disease, treating the condition may help improve symptoms. Some studies have found that aerobic and strength exercises may be beneficial for some people with ataxia

Causes

Ataxia is caused by damage to the part of the brain called the cerebellum or its connections. The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain and connects to the brainstem. The cerebellum helps control balance, eye movements, swallowing and speech.

There are three major groups of ataxia causes: acquired, degenerative and hereditary.

Acquired causes

• Ataxia is a potential side effect of certain medicines. It can be caused by sedatives such as phenobarbital and benzodiazepines. It also may be caused by anti-seizure medicines, especially phenytoin. Some types of chemotherapy also can cause ataxia.
• Heavy metal poisoning, such as from lead or mercury, and solvent poisoning, such as from paint thinner, also can cause ataxia.
• Too little or too much of certain vitamins.Ataxia may be caused by not getting enough vitamin E, vitamin B-12 or vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine. Too little or too much vitamin B-6 also may cause ataxia. Not getting enough of a certain vitamin is known as a vitamin deficiency. When a vitamin deficiency is the cause of ataxia, it often can be reversed.
• Thyroid conditions.Hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism can cause ataxia.
• Sudden onset of ataxia occurs with a stroke. This may be either due to a blood vessel blockage or bleeding on the brain.
• Multiple sclerosis.This condition may cause ataxia.
• Autoimmune diseases.Several diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy cells, known as autoimmune diseases, can cause ataxia. They can include a disease that causes inflammatory cells to collect in parts of the body, known as sarcoidosis. Or they may include an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten, known as celiac disease. Ataxia also can be caused by certain types of a condition that results in swelling in the brain and spinal cord, called encephalomyelitis.
• Rarely, ataxia may be a symptom of chickenpox in childhood and other viral infections such as HIV and Lyme disease. It might appear in the healing stages of the infection and last for days or weeks. The symptom usually gets better over time.
• COVID-19.Ataxia can result from a serious infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Paraneoplastic syndromes.These are rare degenerative conditions triggered by an immune system response to a cancerous tumor, known as a neoplasm. Paraneoplastic syndromes most often occur from lung, ovarian or breast cancer or lymphoma. Ataxia can appear months or years before the cancer is diagnosed.
• Changes in the brain.An infected area in the brain, known as an abscess, may cause ataxia. And a growth on the brain, such as a cancerous or noncancerous tumor, can damage the cerebellum.
• Head trauma.Brain damage may cause ataxia.
• Cerebral palsy.This is a general term for a group of conditions caused by damage to a child’s brain. The damage may happen before, during or shortly after birth. It affects the child’s ability to coordinate body movements.

Degenerative causes

• Multiple system atrophy.This rare condition affects movements and functions such as blood pressure. It can cause ataxia and other symptoms, including lack of bladder control, fainting after standing up and a sleep behavior condition in which a person acts out dreams.

Hereditary causes

Some types of ataxia and some conditions that cause ataxia are passed down in families. These conditions also are called hereditary. If you have one of these conditions, you may have been born with a genetic change that causes the body to make irregular proteins.

Symptoms

Ataxia symptoms can develop over time or start suddenly. Ataxia can be a symptom of several nervous system conditions. Symptoms may include:

• Poor coordination.
• Walking unsteadily or with the feet set wide apart.
• Poor balance.
• Trouble with fine motor tasks such as eating, writing or buttoning a shirt.
• Changes in speech.
• Back-and-forth eye movements that can’t be controlled.
• Trouble swallowing.

Treatments

Ataxia treatment depends on the cause. If ataxia is caused by a condition such as vitamin deficiency or celiac disease, treating the condition may help improve symptoms. If ataxia results from chickenpox or other viral infections, it is likely to resolve on its own.

People with Friedreich ataxia can be treated with an oral medicine called omaveloxolone (Skyclarys). The U.S. Food and Drug Association approved the medicine for adults and teenagers 16 and older. In clinical trials, taking the medicine improved symptoms. People who take this medicine need regular blood tests because omaveloxolone can affect liver enzyme and cholesterol levels. Potential side effects of omaveloxolone include headache, nausea, stomach pain, fatigue, diarrhea, and muscle and joint pain.

Symptoms such as stiffness, tremor and dizziness might improve with other medicines. Your healthcare professional also might recommend adaptive devices or therapies.

Adaptive devices

Ataxia caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy might not be treatable. But adaptive devices may help. They include:

• Hiking sticks or walkers for walking.
• Modified utensils for eating.
• Communication aids for speaking.

Therapies

You might benefit from certain therapies, including:

• Physical therapy to help with coordination and enhance mobility.
• Occupational therapy to help with daily living tasks, such as feeding yourself.
• Speech therapy to improve speech and aid swallowing.

Some studies have found that aerobic and strength exercises may be beneficial for some people with ataxia.

Further if  you come across any one with neurological disorder or any kind of disease sufferer you can share us the latest reports of the patient to our email address – query@gtsmeditour.com or you can whatsapp   +91 9880149003 all the reports and MRI clips and get  free second medical opinion from the highly experienced doctors  connected with us from Major hospitals.

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Overview

An encephalocele is a rare congenital type of neural tube defect (NTD) where part of the skull has not formed properly during fetal development, so a portion of brain tissue and associated structures are outside the skull. The protruding sac may be covered with skin or it may be covered with a thin membrane can occur anywhere along the skull, but most common in the back of the head, top of the head, or between the forehead and nose with multiple complications like Buildup of fluid in the brain, loss of strength in the arms and legs, developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures. Encephaloceles can vary in size, from a small protrusion to a sphere that’s the same volume as the skull. If the encephalocele is large, the baby’s head may be too big to fit through the birth canal, which may require a cesarean section. Treatment usually happens shortly after birth or within the first few months to a year, depending on the size, location and effects the condition has on your baby. Children usually need more than one surgery to treat this condition. Surgery can also treat facial growth irregularities and hydrocephalus.

Types of encephalocele

The types of encephalocele identify the location of the opening in the skull:

• Occipital: The lower back of your baby’s head.
• Parietal: Top, nearest the back of your baby’s head.
• Frontoethmoidal (also called sincipital): Near your baby’s forehead.
• Sphenoidal: Front-middle or behind your baby’s eyes and in front of their ears.

In addition, you may hear your child’s healthcare provider mention two broader categories of encephalocele:

• Anterior: Front of your child’s skull.
• Posterior: Back of their skull.

Causes

A newborn with encephalocele will have a gap in their skull that isn’t closed. This causes a bulge or sac of brain tissue covered in skin coming out of the skull opening. This can look similar to a balloon coming out of your child’s head. Depending on where the skull opening is, the skin on the sac may have hair on it.

Most encephaloceles are congenital (meaning you’re born with it), but some can be acquired as a result of trauma, tumor or other rare conditions such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

The skull opening can happen anywhere on their head. It’s most common on the forehead or the lower back of their head near the base of your baby’s skull.

The exact reason why the neural tube doesn’t close completely is unknown. Research suggests it could be the result of:

• A genetic change that happens during conception.
• An infection (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus).
• A neurological (brain or nerve) condition (like type 3 Chiari malformation).

An underlying medical condition may lead to encephalocele. These conditions include:

• Walker-Warburg syndrome.
• Knobloch syndrome.
• Roberts syndrome.
• Amniotic band syndrome.

Signs and symptoms

• Headache.
• Visual problems.
• Muscle weakness in arms and legs.
• A smaller-than-expected head size at birth.
• Uncoordinated movements (ataxia).
• Facial malformations.
• Nasal obstruction.
• Spinal fluid leaking from nose or ear.

Diagnosis and Tests

If the encephalocele is large, it may be seen on routine prenatal ultrasound, which may allow planning of a caesarean section if it could be risky to have the baby vaginally. Otherwise, in most cases an encephalocele will be visible at birth so is easily diagnosed. Very small encephaloceles, especially those in the nose/forehead area may not be so visible.

Once an encephalocele is suspected, the diagnosis will usually be confirmed with imaging scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. This will allow doctors to see exactly how much of the skull is affected and whether the sac contains meninges or brain tissue or both.

As encephaloceles can be associated with other problems, so the doctors will examine the child closely to check if this is the case.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment for encephalocele is surgery to repair the skull and remove brain tissue that grew outside of the skull. Often, the portion of the brain that’s outside of the skull isn’t functional and can be removed. When the opening is small, sometimes, the brain can be gently moved back into the skull before a surgeon repairs the skull.

Treatment usually happens shortly after birth or within the first few months to a year, depending on the size, location and effects the condition has on your baby.

Children usually need more than one surgery to treat this condition. Surgery can also treat facial growth irregularities and hydrocephalus.

As your child grows, they may need additional support to treat associated conditions like:

• Special education programs in school.
• Medications for seizures.
• Glasses for vision problems.

There’s no known way to prevent encephalocele. You can reduce your risk of having a child with a neural tube defect by getting plenty of folic acid.

Talk to your healthcare provider before you plan on becoming pregnant. They may recommend you take 400 mcg of folic acid daily, even if you don’t plan to get pregnant right away. Neural tube defects (NTDs) happen in the first month of pregnancy. This is often before you even know you’re pregnant, which is why it’s essential to start taking folic acid early.

In addition, let your healthcare provider know if you have a family history of NTDs or if you had a child with an NTD. Your provider can help you prevent future NTDs.

To conclude

Babies can survive encephalocele. Treatment with surgery to repair the skull can help them survive. Babies with large skull openings may have more symptoms and complications than babies with smaller openings. This increases their risk of life-threatening outcomes or a shorter life expectancy.

Studies found that newborns with skull openings near the front of their heads have a better outcome than babies with openings in the back of their heads.

Further if you come across with such cases you can share us the latest  reports  via, email : query@gtsmeditour.com or you can whatsapp on +91 9880149003 the same our team will get back to you with best treatment opinion available with the top doctors from the major hospitals and assist you all the way through the  treatment.

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Overview

Any space-occupying lesion within the cervical spine with the potential to compress the spinal cord can cause cervical myelopathy. The most common type is cervical spondylotic myelopathy, which happens after natural changes to your body as you age. It can cause neck pain, muscle weakness and numbness, among other symptoms. Surgery treats cervical myelopathy.

Once the disorder is diagnosed, complete remission to normality never occurs and spontaneous temporary remission is uncommon. In 75% of the patients, episodic worsening with neurological deterioration occurs, 20% have slow steady progression, and 5% experience rapid onset and progression.

Symptoms and Causes

The symptoms of cervical myelopathy and cervical spondylotic myelopathy include:

• Neck pain or stiffness.
• Numbness or tingling in your hands and arms.
• Muscle weakness in your hands and arms.
• Loss of balance and difficulty walking.
• Difficulty with fine motor skills (like buttoning a shirt or holding silverware).

Common causes of compression include:

• Bone spurs.
• Herniated disk.
• Narrow cervical canal (birth defect).
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Spinal degeneration.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Traumatic injury.
• Tumor.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy happens due to age-related changes that affect the structure and function of parts of your spine in your neck (spinal degeneration). These changes narrow the spinal canal (the opening where your spinal cord sits), which puts pressure on your spinal cord. Degenerative changes are a natural part of getting older.

Risk factors for cervical myelopathy..

Cervical myelopathy can affect anyone at any age. Studies show it’s more common among people of Asian descent older than 30 years.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy can affect anyone as well, but it’s more common among men and people assigned male at birth and adults after age 40. The average age of a diagnosis is 64.

If left untreated, cervical myelopathy symptoms may get worse. This might cause:

• Severe pain.
• Bowel and bladder dysfunction.
• Nerve damage.
• Difficulty walking (instability, high risk of falls).
• Limited use of your fingers, hands and arms.
• Paralysis.

Overview

Paralysis, paresis, and plegia are all terms related to loss of motor function,  A nervous system problem causes paralysis Even though both paralysis and paresis are related to muscle weakness, there is a significant difference in their severity and how they affect the human body. Plegia, or paralysis, is a complete paralysis of skeletal muscles. whereas paresis is partial or restricted weakness of the muscles. Understanding the differences between paralysis and paresis is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Homoeopathic remedies can help improve muscle strength, reduce pain, and support the body’s natural healing processes in addition to this lifestyle changes and physical therapy can also help treat paresis and paralysis.