Coping Methods For Noonan Syndrome

Noonan Syndrome is a genetic disease that develops due to the inheritance of defective genes from one of the patients. The child acquires this disorder since birth. This disorder affects various parts of the body. Its symptoms may range from mild to severe. Its symptoms include typical facial features, stunted growth, learning disabilities, heart defects, hearing problems, vision problems, and many more. It is diagnosed by physical examination, genetic tests, blood tests, and other tests. There is no cure for this disorder. Only some of its symptoms and complications can be managed with medicines, surgery, and others according to the organ involved.

Coping Methods For Noonan Syndrome

Being affected by Noonan syndrome, it brings various physical problems to face. Both family and patients are affected by the long processes of treatment. As this disorder is incurable, the patient needs a support group to cope with it. Several support groups are available who can help the patient to deal with this disorder. The patient should seek the help of his doctor to find the support group. He may help the patient to find trustworthy resources on the internet that can search for a local support group.

Moreover, the doctor can also help the patient to get proper information about the disorder, its causes symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.⁽¹⁾

Noonan Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease affecting children usually acquired from one of the parents. It hinders the normal growth and development of a person. It is present since birth. It affects various parts of the body that result in a variety of problems in the same person. But its symptoms may be different in different persons. It may be mild or severe.⁽²⁾

Noonan syndrome is caused due to the passage of defective genes from one of the parents to the baby. If one of the parents has the faulty genes, there is a 50 % risk of the child born to them may acquire these genes. Apart from the genetic mutation, it has been found that random mutations in the genes during the development of a child in the womb may lead to this syndrome. However, there is no scientific evidence present today that can associate a link between the environmental factors and genes in Noonan syndrome.⁽²⁾

Noonan syndrome represents its symptoms by affecting different organs in the body. Its common symptoms involve unusual facial features, restricted growth, heart defects present since birth, learning disabilities, ear, and eye problems. The typical facial features are represented by wide-set eyes, low-set ears, broad nose with a bulbous tip, deep groove between the mouth and nose, crooked teeth, broad head with a low hairline, and short neck with excess skin folds. The child also has congenital heart diseases such as pulmonary stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, septal defects, and irregular heart rhythm.

The syndrome can be detected in the unborn child during pregnancy through routine ultrasound scans, DNA sampling of the baby, chorionic villus sampling, and amniocentesis. In the child, this syndrome is diagnosed by physical examination, genetic testing, blood tests, and heart problems are detected by electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Educational tests assess learning disabilities. Eye tests are done to check blurred vision or squints. Auditory tests evaluate hearing loss.

Noonan Syndrome is treated based on symptoms representation and severity of the disorder. Heart defects are usually managed with surgery and certain medications. Stunted growth is corrected with growth hormone injections. Other problems, such as feeding and speech problems, undescended testicles, eye problems, etc. are treated by speech therapy, corrective surgery, and glasses, etc.

Conclusion

Noonan syndrome is a congenital disease that renders an impact on the normal function of various parts of the body. Its affections can be mild or severe. When it affects severely, the patient requires support from the families and friends. It is advised to join support groups to talk and discuss the various aspects of the disorder.

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Coping Methods For Noonan Syndrome