Though Canavan Disease affects the Nervous System, there are many corresponding systems that can indicate that one is a victim of the disease. One of these is the very common symptom of Hypotonia, where either a child or an adult has decreased muscle tone, which can cause a multitude of other issues. If appearing as a infant, it will appear limp and unable to maintain the elbows and the knees in a bent position. Often, this will lead to low amounts of strength, poor reflexes, hyperflexibility, speech impediments, and weakened posture, and the inability to hold the head in an upright position.
This disease can lead to many breathing and sleeping difficulties, especially in very young children. Landmarks in both fine and gross motor skills are rarely met within the usual time frame, making the adult individuals handicapped throughout their lives. With these difficulties, constant supervision and care is needed, resulting in many individuals never becoming fully independent. Though there is no medication for this symptom, there are treatment options in the form of physical therapy, which sometimes cure the individual and other times, don't. At times, hypotonia can continue into adulthood, which, in many ways, disables the individual.
Macrocephaly, a symptom in which infants have a head circumference larger than the 98th percentile, is another common symptom of Canavan Disease. When paired with Hypotonia, the child is much worse off, as there is yet more difficulty raising the head, with it's enlarged size.
This disease can lead to many breathing and sleeping difficulties, especially in very young children. Landmarks in both fine and gross motor skills are rarely met within the usual time frame, making the adult individuals handicapped throughout their lives. With these difficulties, constant supervision and care is needed, resulting in many individuals never becoming fully independent. Though there is no medication for this symptom, there are treatment options in the form of physical therapy, which sometimes cure the individual and other times, don't. At times, hypotonia can continue into adulthood, which, in many ways, disables the individual.
Macrocephaly, a symptom in which infants have a head circumference larger than the 98th percentile, is another common symptom of Canavan Disease. When paired with Hypotonia, the child is much worse off, as there is yet more difficulty raising the head, with it's enlarged size.
Macrocephaly, a symptom in which infants have a head circumference larger than the 98th percentile, is another common symptom of Canavan Disease. When paired with Hypotonia, the child is much worse off, as there is yet more difficulty raising the head, with it's enlarged size.
To learn more on Macrocephaly, see Digestive System.
To learn more on Macrocephaly, see Digestive System.