Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disease that causes metabolic problems, behavioral changes, muscle sagging and developmental delay, and another very common feature is the onset of excessive hunger after two years, which can lead to obesity and diabetes.
While this syndrome doesn’t cure, some treatments, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and psychotherapy, can help reduce symptoms and provide a better quality of life.
- The characteristics of Prader-Willi syndrome vary considerably from child to child and are generally different depending on age:.
In addition, it is still very common to have behavioral problems such as having frequent angry attitudes, performing very repetitive routines, or acting aggressively when something is rejected, especially in the case of food.
Prader-Willi syndrome occurs when there is a change in the genes of a segment of chromosome 15, which compromises the functions of the hypothalamus and triggers symptoms of the disease from the birth of the child.Normally, chromosome change is hereditary from the father, but there are also cases where this happens randomly.
Diagnosis is usually made by observing symptoms and genetic tests, indicated for newborns with low muscle tone.
Treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome varies depending on the child’s symptoms and characteristics, and therefore a team of various medical specialties may be needed, as different treatment techniques may be needed, such as:
Many other forms of therapy can also be used, which are generally recommended by the pediatrician after observing the characteristics and behaviors of each child.