Congenital Muscular Dystrophies
What is Congenital Muscular Dystrophy?
Congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) refers to a group of muscular dystrophies that become apparent at or near birth. Muscular dystrophies in general are genetic, degenerative diseases primarily affecting voluntary muscles. CMD iis rare (affecting about 1 in 50,000 babies) and both males and females are equally likely to have this condition. CMD causes muscle weakness early in life – within the first six months of birth. For more information about Congenital Muscular Dystrophy click here.
More information on MCD1A a type of CMD is available here.
Click here for the Congenital Muscular Dystrophy – Family Guide
Other useful resources:
www.curecmd.org – is an USA based organisation with lots of information on the different types of CMD.
www.mdausa.org – the Muscular Dystrophy Association USA website has an extensive site with plenty of further information on any muscular dystrophy conditions as well as research news.
www.muscular-dystrophy.org – the UK muscular dystrophy site. It contains good general information on the condition.
NZ also has an excellent website dedicated to helping and informing those families with rare disorders –
www.nzord.org.nz
For Health Care Professionals
The following academic article summarizes an international consensus on best-practice care for the congenital muscular dystrophies. This was published in the Journal of Child Neurology in November 2010 and can be accessed here.