What Type of Ectodermal Dysplasia is it?
To make a diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasia, physicians and dentists evaluate which ectodermal structures are involved. The doctors may also look for physical features that do not develop from the ectoderm (the bones, for instance). By noticing patterns of physical features in children, doctors are often able to make correct diagnoses and help families cope with their situations and seek proper medical care. A correct diagnosis is necessary for prognosis. To anticipate what kinds of problems an individual with ectodermal dysplasia may have or to reduce concern about what problems may or, indeed may not arise, doctors must know the natural history of the specific condition. Many individuals with ectodermal dysplasia may be given a correct diagnosis eventually. There are, however, some individuals who do not fit neatly into one or another recognized category. In other words, there always seem to be individuals with the label “ectodermal dysplasia – type unknown”. This situation may be fr
