What is muscular dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophy is a broad term used for more than 30 genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness and wasting. The different types of muscular dystrophy differ in the age that symptoms appear (from infancy to middle age or later), the areas of the body that are affected and the severity of symptoms. Becker muscular dystrophy is closely related to Duchenne but it is less severe and the symptoms usually appear later.
All types of muscular dystrophy are considered rare, but Duchenne is the most common form in children.