Peroneal muscular atrophy
The symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) can differ from person to person, even among relatives with the condition.
Symptoms can vary depending on the type of CMT and even people with the same type can experience it differently.
For example, it's not possible topredict theage at which symptoms will first appear, how quickly the disease will progress,or its severity.
Read about the causes of CMT for more information on the different types.
CMT is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms gradually get worse over time. Therefore, it may be difficult to spot any symptoms in young children who have CMT.
Signs that a young child may have CMT include:
The main symptoms of CMT usually appear between the agesoffive and 15, although they sometimes don't develop until well into middle age or later.
Some of the main symptoms of CMT include:
Some people also develop additional problems such as:
As CMT progresses, the muscle weakness and lack of sensation worsens and starts to affect your hands and arms more. This can lead to problems with both manual dexterity and hand strength, making tasks such as doing up the buttons of a shirt very difficult.
Persistent problems with walking and posture can put excessive strain on your body, which often leads to muscle and joint pain. Less commonly, damaged nerves may also cause pain, known as neuropathic pain.
Problems with mobility and walking tend to get worse with age. It's uncommon to lose the ability to walk completely, but older people with CMT often need a walking aid to get around.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of inherited conditions that damage the peripheral nerves.
The severity of the symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) can differ from person to person, even among relatives with the condition.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is caused by mutations in genes that cause the peripheral nerves to become damaged.
If you have early symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), your GP will ask about your symptoms and may carry out a physical examination.
There is no cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), but help is available to help reduce your symptoms and allow you to live as independently as possible.