| Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy | |
| When do they start? | Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are very similar. Duchenne usually starts by age 2 or 3 years. Children with Duchenne are often in a wheelchair by age 9 or 10 years, but some may need a wheelchair much earlier or later. Becker causes similar symptoms but starts later and is usually less severe. |
| Who does it affect? | Mostly boys, but it can affect girls sometimes, too |
| Which muscles are affected most by weakness? | Weakness starts in the trunk but spreads to the arms and legs. The legs usually get weak first. This can make it hard to run, jump, or climb stairs. |
| What other problems can it cause? | Heart and lung problems Abnormal curves in the spine Mental problems in some but not all children |
| Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy | |
| When does it start? | Early childhood to age 20 years or later |
| Who does it affect? | Boys and girls |
| Which muscles are affected most? | Weakness usually starts in the arms and later affects the legs, too. Sometimes the face weakens a little. |
| What other problems can it cause? | Heart problems Limited movement at certain joints caused by a tightening of the tissues around the joint (called "contracture") |
| Myotonic dystrophy | |
| When does it start? | Can start in infancy, childhood, teenage years, or adulthood |
| Who does it affect? | Boys and girls |
| Which muscles are affected most? | Face muscles, arms, and legs |
| What other problems can it cause? | Muscle pain Problems affecting the heart, eyes, brain, and sexual organs Problems breathing and swallowing Stomach pain, diarrhea and constipation Being too sleepy during the day Nerve damage (called neuropathy) |
| Limb girdle muscular dystrophy | |
| When does it start? | Early childhood or later in life |
| Who does it affect? | Boys and girls |
| Which muscles are affected most? | Shoulders and hips |
| What other problems can it cause? | Heart problems Limited movement at certain joints caused by a tightening of the tissues around the joint (called "contracture") |
| Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) | |
| When does it start? | Usually affects people ages 10 to 20 years, but can happen younger |
| Who does it affect? | Boys and girls |
| Which muscles are affected most? | The face muscles get so weak that the person cannot smile, whistle, or shut his or her eyes tight. In some cases, weakness affects the legs; in other cases, the shoulders and upper arms. |
| What other problems can it cause? | Pain Hearing problems Heart problems Mental problems or seizures in some who get the disease very early in life |
| Congenital muscular dystrophy | |
| When does it start? | At birth |
| Who does it affect? | Boys and girls |
| Which muscles are affected most? | Many muscles can be weak. Sometimes this is called "floppy baby." |
| What other problems can it cause? | Limited movement at certain joints caused by a tightening of the tissues around the joint (called "contracture") |
