At least seven different types of muscular dystrophy can develop from birth through adolescence. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most common forms and affects children usually before age 6. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, for example, affects the limbs and trunk muscles, while Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy affects shoulders, arms and shins. Some forms of muscular dystrophy result in premature death, often in early adulthood. Other forms allow the person to live far into their adult years.
Heart disease is common among children with certain varieties of muscular dystrophy.
Treatment Children with muscular dystrophy receive care from many specialists in the University of Chicago Hospitals' Muscular Dystrophy Association clinic.