Today May 30 is celebrated Prader Willi Syndrome International Day. Its purpose is to commemorate this day for all those who suffer from this rare disease and that it has been predicted in 1956 by specialized doctors.
This disease is caused by a genetic disorder caused by the problem that occurs on chromosome 15. Its symptoms appear since children are babies, with symptoms of poor muscle tone and weak crying. There are many more symptoms and even children older than 2 years begin to present other high-level ones.
How Prader Willi develops in babies
This disease already begins to show its first symptoms in very young children, practically from birth. Babies have poor muscle tone, it will be noticed in the knees and elbows where they will rest as if they had no strength. When answering they have a slow response capacity, as if he was very tired. Even the baby's cry is very weak.
Because of their weakened muscle tone, babies have the poor suction reflex, so a slow or weakened suction can cause a lack of feeding and a failure in its development. Facial features are very significant: the eyes are almond-shaped, the mouth is sloping downward, the upper lip is very thin, and the temples are narrowed on the head. Both boys and girls genitalia are underdeveloped. Boys 'penis and testicles, and girls' clitoris and labia are smaller than normal.
Photo taken from Yucatan
How Prader Willi develops in children from 2 to 3 years
Although their symptoms appear when they are babies, they can last throughout your childhood and progress throughout your life. Children from the age of two begin to have an excessive craving for food intake, reaching a great rapid weight gain.
Its development and growth are deficient. They have a short stature, little muscle mass, and high body fat. All derived to endocrine problems or hormonal deficiencies, including hypothyroidism, where the body does not respond adequately to situations of stress or infections.
They have speech problems, since its evolution is delayed. Present emotional behavior problems and little controlled. They may have obsessive-compulsive behaviors, tantrums, dislike changes in routine, and tend to have mental health disorders.
Among their physical appearance appear very small hands or feet scoliosis or abnormal curvature of the spine, spinal problems, vision problems, pale skin and the underdeveloped sexual organss. Even women may never have menstruation, and men may develop delayed puberty, even non-existent.
Treatment for Prader Willi Syndrome
Detection of this rare disease is based on a molecular test, being possible an early diagnosis so that a follow-up or treatment can be done within what can be applied. Prader Willi syndrome has no cure and you have to guide a series of patterns so that the person leads a better quality of life. Among his advice is to wear a constant supervision to control weight and obesity. The supply of calcium and vitamin D and the administration of hormonal treatments.
We will have to create a series of routines, rules, norms and limits that will have to be compensated with positive rewards that are not associated with food. However, psychiatric and psychological support will always be present for their problems with self-regulation of behavior, stress and low self-esteem.
People who suffer from it and especially children they must follow up and support by an adult, since the protection and social integrity of the child with society is necessary. You can read one of our articles where we offer the form of promote the inclusion of children who suffer from childhood obesity.