Race with time
Symptoms
Although they are born looking healthy, children with Progeria begin to display many characteristics of accelerated aging at around 18-24 months of age.
In the first year, the following arises:
- stagnation in growth, dwarfed growth; serious growth delay;
- beginning hair loss;
- changes of the breast and belly skin: Leathery skin, dry and sometimes red in color, formation of fat edema (scleroderma);
- strong growth of the skull size
- decreased agility
The further development of the child lapses till at the end of the first year normal and discreetly.
Image from the second year:
- Lively children that however increase scarcely in weight and length.
- the children appear fragile.
- the small face with the large, rather round eyes is striking.
- a relatively small jaw in which the teeth often have too little space.
- Thin or mostly no head hair
- Thin, tight and translucent skin.
- The skin has little elasticity, and therefore extra vulnerable.
- clear visible blood vessels, particularly on the head..
- circles under the eyes.
- hyperpigmentations (lentigo senilis)
Image after the two first years:
- striking short and broad nails and shortened last bones in one’s finger (acro-osteolysis);
- subcutaneous body fat disappears;
- extraordinary position of the legs : slightly stiff with light bent knees. With help of X-rays is to be seen that the position of the upper leg points outward (coxa valga).
- the tendons no longer will develop. They will move stiff with light bent knees
- stunted growth of collarbones; also using X-rays to determine
- bothered by an increasing stiffness of the joints (arthritis). Usually begins in the fingers and knees, wooden movements. Also they can suffer from rheumatic disorders.
- Changes of the blood vessels and of all other organs, arise through the advancing arterioscleroses resulting in bleeding disorders and connective tissue scleroses in the body.
- Decreased senses
- diabetes
- hip dislocation
- Thin, high-pitched voice
- Protruding ears; lack of ear lobes
Finally culminating with the following:
- Heart and vascular diseases
- Arteriosclerosis
- Heart Attack(s)
- cerebral infarction & strokes: brain hemorrhages