Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that lead to fatigue, weakness, and uncontrolled loss of muscle mass. In this condition, the normal genes undergo mutation and meddle with the production of proteins required for maintaining healthy muscles.

Muscular dystrophy can be categorized into various types. There is no particular cure for this progressive ailment. However, medications and therapy can help in managing the symptoms and slowing down the pace of progression.

Symptoms of muscular dystrophy
Largely, the symptoms of muscular dystrophy depend upon the type of disease. The initial symptoms may appear in childhood, mostly in the case of boys.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy
It is the most common type of muscular dystrophy, which is especially common in boys. It is seen that most boys diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy do not have any family history of this condition. It occurs due to sudden mutations in the genes.

The most common symptoms of this type include:

• Waddling walk
• Problem with running and jumping
• Frequent falls
• Difficulty in getting up from a supine position
• Large calf muscles
• Stiffness and pain in the muscles
• Difficulty in learning and grasping things

Becker muscular dystrophy
The signs and symptoms of Becker muscular dystrophy are similar to those of Duchenne type. However, this disease progresses slowly. The initial symptoms of the condition begin to show up in the teens and may continue to evolve until the mid-20s.

Some other types of muscular dystrophy
There are few other types of this disease classified on the basis of the body part where the symptoms first appear. These include:

• Myotonic: This type affects the neck and facial muscles. It is characterized by an inability to relax muscles at will after contraction.
• Facioscapulohumeral: It begins in the face and shoulder muscles. In this type of muscular dystrophy, the shoulder blades project outwards as one raises his or her arms.
• Limb-girdle: This type affects the hip and shoulder muscles. In this condition, people find it extremely hard to raise the front of their foot, and thus, they frequently fall down.

Causes of muscular dystrophy
Some genes in the body help in producing proteins which protect the muscle fibers from damage. Muscular dystrophy occurs when any of these genes undergo mutation.

Sometimes, these mutations can be inherited while others may occur unexpectedly in the mother’s egg or developing embryo, and thus get passed on to the next generation.

Risk factors
Although muscular dystrophy occurs in both boys and girls and in people of all ages and races, the disease is more likely to affect young boys. Additionally, people with a family history of muscular dystrophy are at a higher risk of developing it themselves.

When should one see a doctor?
If one notices that their child shows any signs of muscle weakness such as frequent falls or difficulty in walking straight, it is imperative to consult a doctor immediately. They will help the parents in reaching an accurate diagnosis and begin with a suitable treatment.