The prognosis of Type A is dismal, and usually a baby with this form of Niemann-Pick Disease succumbs by the second year of life. Symptoms and signs of Type A include abdominal distention, coordination and motor-skill difficulties, and feeding problems. Type B is less extreme and does not affect the brain. However, it does cause liver, spleen, lymph node, and bone marrow problems and generally leads to abdominal distention and respiratory difficulties. Prenatal testing for Type A or B Neimann-Pick Disease is available.
Present treatment is mostly supportive.