Ectodermal dysplasia
Ectodermal Dysplasia
Ectodermal dysplasia (pronounced: ek-toe-der-mal dis-play-zee-uh) is a group of inherited disorders that affect the ectoderm, the outer layer of tissue in a developing baby.
Etymology
The term "ectodermal dysplasia" is derived from the Greek words "ektos" meaning "outside", "derma" meaning "skin", and "dysplasia" meaning "abnormal growth or development".
Definition
Ectodermal dysplasias are characterized by abnormal development of certain tissues and structures derived from the ectoderm, including the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ectodermal dysplasia can vary widely among individuals and depend on the specific type of disorder. Common symptoms include sparse hair, missing or malformed teeth, and an inability to sweat due to a lack of sweat glands.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasia is typically based on the presence of characteristic physical features. Genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific type of ectodermal dysplasia.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for ectodermal dysplasia. Treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms and may include dental work to improve the appearance and function of the teeth, wigs to address hair loss, and measures to prevent overheating due to the inability to sweat.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ectodermal dysplasia
- Wikipedia's article - Ectodermal dysplasia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski