What is tuberous sclerosis?
"Tuberous" refers to an abnormal growth shaped like a tuber, which is a root vegetable like a potato or yam. "Sclerosis" means hardening of something soft, like growths or organs.
Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic disorder What is a genetic disorder? Your genes are the chemical codes that control everything about how your body works, how it's made, and what it looks like. People have over 20,000 different genes. Every cell in your body has... read more in which many hard, tuber-shaped tumors grow in your child's brain and sometimes other organs such as the heart, kidneys, and lungs. Some of the growths are cancerous.
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The most common symptoms include seizures (usually infantile spasms Infantile Spasms "Infantile" refers to babies under 1 year old. A "spasm" is a sudden uncontrolled movement. Infantile spasms are a type of seizure. A seizure is caused by an abnormal burst of electrical activity... read more ), skin growths and colored patches, and learning and behavior problems
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Doctors suspect the disorder based on your child's symptoms and confirm it by genetic tests
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There's no cure but medicines sometimes help relieve symptoms
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Repeat imaging studies help identify new tumors early on, when treatment is more likely to be successful
What causes tuberous sclerosis?
Tuberous sclerosis is caused by an abnormal gene Genes and Chromosomes Your genes are the chemical codes that control everything about how your body works, how it's made, and what it looks like. People have over 20,000 different genes. Every cell in your body has... read more .
Sometimes, the baby inherits the abnormal gene from a parent. Other times, the baby is the first person in the family to have the abnormal gene.
What are the symptoms of tuberous sclerosis?
The symptoms vary and are more severe in some children than in others.
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The first symptom may be seizures Seizures in Children Seizures are changes in the brain's electrical signals. The brain is made up of nerve cells Nerve cells talk to each other through electrical signals Seizures happen if too many nerve cells... read more , particularly the type of seizures called infantile spasms Infantile Spasms "Infantile" refers to babies under 1 year old. A "spasm" is a sudden uncontrolled movement. Infantile spasms are a type of seizure. A seizure is caused by an abnormal burst of electrical activity... read more
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Often your child's skin has colored patches, flat spots, lumps, and bumps
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Patches may form at the back of your child's eye (retina), which can affect vision
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Often in children, the surfaces of the permanent teeth are pitted
Tumors cause symptoms that vary depending on where the tumor grows:
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Brain tumors can cause headaches, seizures, or intellectual disabilities and can slow a child’s development
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Kidney tumors can cause high blood pressure, stomach pain, and blood in the urine
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Lung tumors (often in teenage girls) can cause breathing problems
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Heart tumors form before birth and have no symptoms
How do doctors know my baby has tuberous sclerosis?
How do doctors treat tuberous sclerosis?
How can I prevent tuberous sclerosis in my baby?
Tuberous sclerosis can't be prevented.
However, if tuberous sclerosis runs in your family and you're planning on having children, you can get genetic tests to see if you carry the gene that can causes tuberous sclerosis. Genetic counseling can help determine the risk of your child having the disorder.
