Rett Syndrome

Term Paper # 1885

Rett Syndrome

A look at the symptoms and treatment of Rett Syndrome, one of the most common causes of profound intellectual disability in female children.

1,470 words () | 5 sources | 2000

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Rett Syndrome, which is recognized to be one of the most common causes of profound intellectual disability in female children, gradually robbing healthy infant girls of their language, mental function and ability to interact with others. Symptoms and ways to relieve these symptoms are discussed. The paper looks at the discovery by Houston doctors who have identified a defective gene that causes Rett syndrome. The paper concludes with the prospect of further study of this illness.

From the Paper:

"Rett syndrome is a progressive neurological disorder that strikes apparently normal baby girls, who develop normally until 6 to 18 months of age, when they enter a period of regression. The appearance of normality and the small progress that is evident before regression, including the development of a few words, has sometimes led to the assumption that these children are completely normal until symptomatic behaviors occur. Early development gives way to dramatic reduction in communication, withdrawal, crying spells and disturbed sleep, usually between 1 and 2 years of age, although occasionally as early as 4 months or as late as four years. They lose acquired speech and hand skills and develop seizures, autism, repetitive hand wringing, irregular breathing and motor-control problems. Seizures are not uncommon and sometimes precede other signs of regression. They live to adulthood and may be otherwise physically healthy, but most are never able to walk or feed themselves again (Kerr et al. 1997)."