Prader-Willi syndrome causes intense hunger and obesity, with symptoms including facial features, poor muscle tone, hormonal imbalances, and behavior problems. Treatment includes hormone therapy and a low-calorie, high-nutrient diet. Symptoms may persist into adulthood, requiring lifelong drug therapy.
Prader-Willi syndrome is a condition in which an individual feels a strong sense of hunger, even when food has been recently eaten. The condition is present at birth and can begin to manifest itself as early as one year of age. Due to intense hunger pangs, children with Prader-Willi syndrome are much more prone to obesity than their peers. As a result, they are much more likely to develop physical ailments that are a direct result of obesity.
There are a number of signs and symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome that are evident early on. Many children suffering from the condition will have facial features such as almond-shaped eyes, a downturned mouth, and a noticeably thin upper lip. Poor muscle tone is another of the most common symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome and is shown by the knees and elbows being freely extended most of the time, instead of assuming a fixed position when the child is fussing or playing.
As the child gets older, other symptoms will appear. Hormonal imbalances are usually present, resulting in slow development of the sex organs. The lack of muscle tone becomes more pronounced, while the hunger pangs increase in frequency and severity. Your child may have difficulty sleeping, develop severe behavior problems, and possibly have difficulty learning and speaking. Myopia may also develop, and skin color may be noticeably lighter than that of the rest of the family.
There are several types of Prader-Willi syndrome treatment that can help relieve many of the symptoms. Hormone treatments can help restore a normal growth pattern, allowing your child’s body to mature at a similar rate to other children her age. Eating a diet that is low in calories but high in protein, fiber, and various essential nutrients can also help maintain physical and emotional balance, which will likely help control behavior problems. In some cases, ongoing counseling will also help the child manage the illness and enjoy a relatively normal level of social interaction with other children.
Care must be taken to use exercise and proper diet in order to keep the condition at bay as your child enters adolescence and then adulthood. Depending on the severity of the condition, injection of sex hormones may be required to trigger normal growth and the onset of puberty. While symptoms may subside over time, they rarely go away completely. Adults who have Prader-Willi syndrome sometimes use lifelong drug therapy to cope with the disease.
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