On World Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day, it is worth knowing that Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is not simply a muscle disease.
It is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, most commonly affecting boys.
Some early signs can be surprisingly subtle like difficulty keeping up with other children while running or playing, frequent falls or difficulty getting up from the floor, trouble climbing stairs, walking on the toes, or enlarged-looking calf muscles.
These signs do not automatically mean a child has DMD. Many can occur for other reasons. But when several appear together, they deserve medical evaluation.
Early recognition matters because timely diagnosis allows families to access appropriate multidisciplinary care, genetic counselling, physiotherapy, cardiac and respiratory monitoring, and available treatments.
On this awareness day, let us understand that recognition can lead to understanding, and understanding can lead to better care.