Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscle disease of childhood. One in every 3,500 newborn boys have Duchenne. Very rarely it also affects girls (approximately 1 in 50 million girls). It occurs across all races and cultures.
Symptoms of Duchenne usually appear between ages two and five years and may include difficulty: running, jumping, climbing and rising from the floor, frequent falls, enlarged calf muscles, toe walking and delays in language development. The first muscles affected are those around the hips and upper thigh. Weakness gradually progresses to include all the muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles), the muscles used for breathing and the heart.
If a family member or friend has recently been diagnosed with Duchenne, you may like to order our free New Diagnosis Pack.