What is Ataxia Telangiectasia?
Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a primary immunodeficiency disease which affects a number of different organs in the body. An immunodeficiency disease is one that causes the immune system to break down, making the body susceptible to diseases. (Question 1) • Is the disorder curable? It is a rare, recessive genetic disorder of childhood that occurs in between 1 out of 40,000 and 1 out of 100,000 persons worldwide. The ailment is progressive. Patients with A-T are frequently wheelchair-bound by their teens, and the disease is generally fatal to patients by the time they reach their twenties. (Question 1) • What are the signs of ataxia telangiectasia? The first signs of the disease, which include delayed development of motor skills, poor balance, and slurred speech, usually occur during the first decade of life. Telangiectasias (tiny, red “spider” veins), which appear in the corners of the eyes or on the surface of the ears and cheeks, are characteristic of the disease, but are not always
