Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare disorder at birth that results in several physicals, mental and behavioral problems. The persistent feeling of hunger is the main feature of the Prader-Willi Syndrome and usually, begins at the age of about two years.
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Patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome want to eat continuously because they never feel full and have a problem controlling their weight. Many complications result from obesity.
If you or your child suffers from Prader-Willi Syndrome, you can work with a team of specialists to deal with symptoms, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life.
Symptoms
- Infants
General Signs and symptoms of the Prader-Willi Syndrome appear in several stages. Signs that may exist since birth include:
- Weak muscle tension
The weakness of muscle tension (lack of muscle tension) is a major sign during infancy, and maybe the body of infants while relying on their elbows and knees, rather than static, as may feel their billion or they are like cloth dolls when they carry.
- Characteristic features of the face
Children may be born with almond-like eyes, with a narrow head at the temples, and high, thin lips.
- Lack of growth
The lack of muscle tension leads to the difficulty of nutrition, which makes them gain weight slowly.
- Lack of eye synergy (strabismus)
The child's eyes may not move together; they may move toward or opposite each other.
- General weakness of the response
The baby may appear unusually tired, faintly responsive, difficult to wake up or have a weak crying.
- Early childhood and adulthood
Other features of the Prader-Willi Syndrome appear during early childhood and remain lifelong, requiring careful handling or treatment.
These features may include:
- Desire to eat and gain weight
Common signs and symptoms include persistent eating and weight gain. They eat frequently and eat large amounts. The child may also exhibit unusual behaviors in search of food, such as storing food or eating things like garbage or frozen foods.
- Lack of growth of the genitals
A condition called hypogonadism occurs when the female genitalia (testicles in men and ovaries in women) produce a few sex hormones or do not produce any of these hormones.
These result in lack of growth of the genitals, incomplete growth at puberty, and infertility in almost all cases. Without treatment, women may not start menstruating until they reach the thirties, or may never incubate, as men may not have much facial hair, and may never coarse their voices.
- Poor growth and physical development
Children with low muscle mass and high body fat, and may have hands and feet small, and when the person with the disorder of the full structure of adults, is usually shorter than other family members.
- Intellectual disability
The mild to moderate weakness of mental functions, such as thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving (mental disability) is a common feature of this disorder, and those with no major mental disability will have learning difficulties.
- Delayed development of motor
The arrival of children of child-bearing age with Prader-Willi syndrome is often delayed by physical activity - such as sitting or walking - from other children.
- Speech problems
Spontaneous speech is often delayed in affected children, and the problem of poor pronunciation may persist during puberty.
Behavioral Problems
Children and adults may sometimes become stubborn, angry, abusive, or exploitative, and may enter into fits of angry mood, especially when deprived of food.
They may not have any changes in their daily routines, they may have obsessive-compulsive behaviors or repetitive behaviors, or both, and may develop other mental health disorders, such as deformity disorder.
- Sleep disorders
Adults and children with Prader-Willi syndrome may suffer from sleep disorders, which include normal sleep cycle disorders and sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops temporarily during sleep.
These disorders can lead to drowsiness during the day and exacerbate behavioral problems and may aggravate obesity from sleep disorders.
- Deviation of the spine
Some children suffer from abnormal curvature in the spine (scoliosis).
Other endocrine problems
This may include hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism, or adrenal insufficiency, which prevents the body from responding appropriately during stress or infection.
Other signs and symptoms of the Prader-Willi Syndrome may include:
- Myopia and other vision problems.
- Skin and hair opening compared to the rest of the family.
- High pain tolerance, making it difficult to detect injuries or diseases.
- Problems in regulating body temperature during fever or in hot and cold places.
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