Children have the natural desire and energy to go full-tilt all day long, so it's a cause for concern when your child complains of weakness or appears lethargic. See your doctor immediately when symptoms of weakness in the back and other major muscle groups present themselves. These symptoms may indicate a treatable condition, but only a trained medical doctor can tell for sure.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, is a genetic condition that causes a loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. As neurons die, the muscles that they control become weaker. There are four forms of SMA, three of which manifest at birth or early in childhood. Type I causes severe symptoms from birth, and sufferers have a life expectancy of only two years. Children with type II SMA will never walk and may not live into adulthood. Type III SMA also develops during childhood but has a more positive prognosis. Type III still results in muscle weakness and difficulty walking, but patients do enjoy a normal life expectancy.
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy includes a family of diseases that all destroy muscle tissue at the microscopic level. Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophies both develop in childhood and cause a steady weakening of major muscle groups. Of these two forms, Duchenne is the most serious because it involves the heart muscle and respiratory system. Children with muscular dystrophy often require assistance devices and physical therapy to maintain some muscle tone. The life expectancy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is about 30 years.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
A rare condition that can strike any age group, Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the body's immune system attacks nerve cells and fibers. Doctors don't know what causes the condition, but an infectious illness often precedes its development. Symptoms of the condition include weakness in the lower body that spreads upward, severe lower back pain, difficulty walking and a rapid heart rate. Symptoms reach their peak at about four weeks, while full recovery may take years. There is no cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but doctors have a number of treatments that may lessen the effects.
Polio
Polio is a viral infection that attacks the spinal cord. Nearly extinct in the developed world, polio still wreaks havoc in certain parts of Africa, Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. The virus is contagious and spreads through contaminated food and water. Most children who contract polio experience no symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they include fever, numbness, headache and nausea. Polio symptoms are typically more severe in adults. Only rarely does a polio infection result in disability or paralysis.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and incurable disease that attacks the central nervous system. While women are in the highest risk group, children may also develop multiple sclerosis. The progress of the disease is slower in children, but some level of disability is inevitable. Symptoms of the disease include numbness, fatigue, difficulty coordinating movements and cognitive dysfunction. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, but current treatment options have demonstrated effectiveness at reducing symptoms and slowing the disease's progress. These treatments include powerful medications, physical therapy, nutrition and exercise.
References
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation: Frequently Asked Questions
- Muscular Dystrophy Association: Facts About Duchenne & Becker Muscular Dystrophies
- Mayo Clinic: Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- New York State Department of Health: Poliomyelitis (Infantile Paralysis, Polio)
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
