UNDERSTANDING HYPERMOBILE EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME
May 11, 2022
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Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a connective tissue disease that is inherited; passed from parent to child. Those with EDS have a problem producing collagen, which causes their connective tissues to be weaker than they should be.
According to Professor Rodney Grahame, it is estimated that 95% of US cases are missed or misdiagnosed. It is believed to affect approximately 1.5-million people globally. The condition is traditionally diagnosed by a neurologist or rheumatologist and is confirmed by the use of genetic screening.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HYPERMOBILE EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME
Children with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlose Syndrome (hEDS) experience loose, unstable joints that can easily dislocate. This often makes walking difficult and children prone to falling. They also typically have skin that is easily bruised and suffer from extreme tiredness.
Like many other childhood disorders, hEDS can present in a variety of ways, with different levels of severity. The way it presents can change over time as well. Here are some of the symptoms patients may have:
Hyperextensibility in the skin (skin that can stretch more than normal)
Fragile tissue or skin that bruises easily
Joints that stretch or overextend more than normal (Joint Hypermobility)
Chronic migraine headaches
Fibromyalgia
Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction
Numbness, tingling, or burning in hands, feet, and nerves
A high sense of anxiety
Dark red or bluish color to the legs when standing up
According to an article in Scientific America, a study published in 2014 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology is among the most recent to confirm the association, finding that people with hypermobile joints have heightened brain activity in anxiety regions.
PARENT RESOURCES FOR EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME
As with any medical issue, education is the first step towards finding appropriate treatment and learning to best support your child. Here are a few resources we recommend:
Disjointed: Navigating the Diagnosis and Management of hEDS book
Ehlers-Danlos Hub at edshub.org
As with any medical condition, contact your pediatric medical professional for diagnosis and treatment for your child's condition.
