How Do You Diagnose Ataxia Telangiectasia?
A childhood immune deficiency condition, Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) causes a progressive degeneration of the nervous system. It is characterized by neurological defects which cause an unsteady gait, dilate blood vessels in the skin and eyes and cause frequent infections due to immunodeficiency. With a poor prognosis and no known cure for this condition, the treatment aims to relieve symptoms and provide support. Look for symptoms such as tiny red lesions on the face and eyes and decreasing loss of muscle control in your child. In children less than two years old, watch for drooling and slurred speech. They may also experience recurrent infections due to the lowered immune response (IgA.) Make sure that your child has regularly scheduled physical checkup exams, as well exams during times of illness. Blood tests, such as the measurement of serum alpha-fetoproteins in the blood, provide an accurate diagnosis of AT. Diagnosis in children usually occurs between the ages of two to seven year
