Essay On Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetically inherited disease that causes progressive muscle and bones weakness. The symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy. Symptoms can be noticed very early like not sitting and standing independently at the correct age. The age for walking for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is around 18 months. There is progressive muscle weakness of the legs and pelvic muscles, which is caused by a loss of muscle mass. This muscle weakness can cause difficulty climbing stairs. Most Symptoms appear in boys ages 1-6. Because of muscle damage kids Might need braces by the age of 10 and by age of 12 be in be wheelchair. The amount of people using wheelchairs because of duchenne muscular dystrophy is around, 29% of males 5 through 9 years of age, 82% of males 10 through 14 years of age and more than 90% of males 15 through 24 years of age.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is extremely common in young boys, but not in young girls. This is because duchenne muscular dystrophy is sex linked to the X chromosome. This means boys are much more likely to get duchenne muscular dystrophy because they only have one X chromosome. Girls can still get duchenne muscular dystrophy but it is very uncommon. Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects 1 in every 3,600 children in the United States. Treatment for duchenne muscular dystrophy usually includes physical therapy for maximizing muscle strength and using ventilators that delivers the right amount of air to the person with duchenne muscular dystrophy. Treatment cost anywhere from $13,000 dollars a year for younger children and up to $32,500 dollars for a teen or young adult. Right now there is no cure for duchenne muscular dystrophy but medical organizations are helping to find the cure as soon as