Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disease characterized by muscle weakness, walking difficulties, and loss of muscle mass. Symptoms typically emerge in infancy and worsen over time. Specifically, the inability of infants to balance and walk by 18 months of age can be among the early signs of DMD. The main symptoms of DMD include:
* Muscle weakness and atrophy (loss of muscle mass) beginning in the legs and pelvis
* Calf muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size)
* Difficulty climbing stairs
* Worsening walking difficulties over time
* Frequent falls
* Learning difficulties
* Waddling or duck-like gait
* Toe walking
* General weakness and easy fatigue
* Difficulty standing up from a sitting position (Gowers' sign)
* Inability to run and jump
* Muscle pain and stiffness
* Delayed speech and language development