By Robert Johnson SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY

SYMPTOMS INFANT Can have a breathing difficulty Difficulty feeding, food may go down windpipe instead of stomach Floppy infant, poor muscle tone Lack of head control Little movements

SYMPTOMS CHILD Much less symptoms then infant A increase in severe respiratory infections, frequently Nasal speech Your posture begins to get worse

SMA type I- infants born with very little muscle tone, very weak and will have feeding and breathing problems SMA type II- symptoms don’t start to appear until 6 months to 2 years SMA type III- mild disease, starts in childhood/adolescence SMA type IV- even milder, weakness starts in adulthood 4 TYPES

4 in every 100,000 people have it, 1 in every 25,000 1 out of every 40 people are genetic carriers of the disease When both parents have gene 1 of every 4 kids get it You should check with your doctor before having kids if you have the gene PREVALENCE

Most of the time to be affected the person has to get the defective gene from both of their parents autosomal recessive genetic disease Missing or mutated gene SMN Produces protein Attacks nerve cells in spinal cord CAUSES/TRANSMITTED

No treatment for weakness caused by disease Support care is very important Attention to respiratory system Physical therapy to prevent scoliosis TREATMENTS

The second leading cause of Neuromuscular disease People with SMA type I rarely live longer then 2-3 years SMA is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two. INTERESTING FACTS

WORK CITIED Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Spinal Muscular Atrophy. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov Web. 17 Dec "Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - What Causes Spinal Muscular Atrophy?" Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - What Causes Spinal Muscular Atrophy? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec "Spinal Muscular Atrophy: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 17 Dec