Retts Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms, Information with Treatment

Rett syndrome is not a degenerative disorder, but rather is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Rett syndrome affects one in every 10,000 to 15,000 live female births. It occurs in all racial and ethnic groups worldwide. Parents later reflected on how it was nearly impossible to comfort them during their episodes. As many as 75% of all girls with RS had been previously diagnosed with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Adult women with Rett syndrome show many individual differences in the severity of their disability.All women with Rett syndrome are incapable of living independently and require constant care throughout their lives.

Innovative and flexible living arrangements such as group homes are becoming the norm in many cases. There are several treatments options available treat for rett-sydrome. Occupational therapy , physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy may prolong mobility. Medication may be needed for breathing irregularities and motor difficulties, and antiepileptic drugs may be used to control seizures. Some children may require special equipment and aids such as braces to arrest scoliosis, splints to modify hand movements, and nutritional programs to help them maintain adequate weight. Special academic, social, vocational, and support services may also be required in some cases.

Causes of Retts Syndrome

Common Causes and Risk factors of Retts Syndrome

Spontaneous mutation of the X chromosome.

Gne MECP2.

Signs and Symptoms of Retts Syndrome

Common Sign and Symptoms of Retts Syndrome

Language and growth retardation

Slow head growth.

Seizures.

Bone fractures.

Agitation.

Constipation.

Abnormal Breathing.

Hyperventillation.

Treatment of Retts Syndrome

Common Treatment of Retts Syndrome

Drugs may help control some of the symptoms associated with the disorder - such as epileptic seizures.

Orthopedic surgery may be needed for severe cases of scoliosis.

In some cases, physical therapy can help maintain walking skills, and occupational therapy may improve purposeful use of the hands.

Some children may require special equipment and aids such as braces to arrest scoliosis, splints to modify hand movements, and nutritional programs to help them maintain adequate weight.

Therapy has also included administration of levodopa (L-dopa), a precursor of dopamine, or medications that mimic the effects of dopamine (dopamine agonists).

Physical therapy may help to improve balance and the ability to walk, maintain flexibility, and strengthen muscles

Regular monitoring for scoliosis is important to ensure prompt detection and early.

Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and skin disorders. She also writes articles on herbal home remedies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juliet_Cohen

Symptoms of Autism and Different Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The symptoms of autism typically include - lack of eye contact, lack of interest in objects or things or even people, lack of communication skills, disinterest in relationships and social interaction, restricted interests in activities and play, mental retardation in several cases, and occasional savant skills.

Autism is a disorder that affects the social, emotional, and behavioral development of children, marked by serious difficulties in interacting and communicating with other people; and with other symptoms like constantly repeating certain actions or behaviors, and having intense interests restricted to only particular things or topics.

However, autism is one of a range of similar diseases that constitute the autism spectrum disorders. They are referred to, professionally, as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs), and they are about five in number, autism or classic autistic disorder being one of them. The others are Rett's syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's syndrome, and Childhood Developmental Disorder (CDD).

What distinguishes one disorder from the other is the severity of the autism symptoms that are present in the sufferers of each. In some cases, the symptoms are more severe, leading to loss of control over bodily functions, as is the case with Childhood Developmental Disorder.

Rett's syndrome is particularly of interest because it appears to occur only in girls and can be relentless enough to result in death. In some cases, the patient only has a few of the symptoms that characterize autism, but not enough for a full diagnosis. These are given the PDD-NOS designation.

Click Autism Spectrum Syndrome and Autism Children Activities for top secrets!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elliott_Snow

Autistic Disorder - One Term, Many Meanings

Though autistic disorder is often thought of as a single condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in fact refers to five different kinds of autism. When most people think about autism, they're only thinking about one type - the kind they saw in the movie Rainman - and don't realize that this is only a fifth of the disorders to which autism truly refers.

The first type of autism is called Classic Autism. It's also known as Kanner's autism, or Kanner's disorder after a doctor who researched the condition in the 1930s through the 1940s. Classic autism is one of the lower functioning forms in the spectrum, and is identified by its high level of social and communication issues. Children with the classic autistic disorder rarely interact with the majority of people. They often suffer from poor motor skills and frequently repeat actions and motions. They are also generally reluctant to make eye contact and may display temper tantrums when they experience a change in their usual routine or environment. Though some individuals with classic autism are completely verbal, many struggle to communicate through speech, and others cannot speak at all.

The second form of autism is referred to as Rett's Syndrome. This type off autistic disorder is another low-functioning one. Rett's is exclusive to females and often occurs in conjunction with mental retardation. Rett's girls are typically impaired in their movements and will rarely communicate verbally. Studies have concluded that Rett's is passed on genetically, though no hypothesis has yet to be proven regarding the reason that it occurs only in girls when all other types of autism occur in boys 75 percent of the time.

The third kind of autistic disorder is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Children with this form of autism often develop normally, or are diagnosed with Classic Autism or Rett's Syndrome. However, the diagnosis changes with the speech and motor skill problems that accelerate. Regression occurs between the ages of two and four for an unknown reason, though it is suspected that it may be brought about by illness or types of surgery. This hypothesis has yet to be proven.

The fourth form of autistic disorder is Asperger's Syndrome. It is easy to misdiagnose children with this disorder as they generally have better social and communication skills than other autistic children, but they still face limitations. It typically isn't until these children begin school that these limitations start to become obvious. Children with Asperger's often do very well with behavioral treatments and are able to exist quite well within a normal lifestyle when they begin these therapies as early as possible.

The last form of autistic disorder is also the most vague. It is called PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified) and is the diagnosis given to children who are believed to have autism but whose condition does not fit the typical definition of the other four types of autistic disorder. These children may have some symptoms that match some of the autism forms, but do not have a specific kind of autism that can be diagnosed.

Part of the understanding of autism comes along with the knowledge of where the disorder may have come from and what can worsen the symptoms. There are many different theories, including the impact that allergies can have on an autistic child.

For some autistic people and relatives of those on the spectrum the autism disorder classifications are two broad and there is a belief that effective treatments are unlikely to be discovered until the spectrum is broken down further. A common phrase within the autism arena goes like this...'when you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism'. This phrase highlights the diversity of symptoms and abilities of people grouped together under the spectrum umbrella and confirms the complexity of this disorder.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover effective methods for maximizing the potenital of a loved one with autistic disorder. And for information on the different types of autism please visit The Essential Guide To Autism blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans