A college-age female patient tells the nurse that she has trouble at times moving the muscles of her face to smile or whistle, and her feet feel "weak" but then the symptoms "go away."

Question

The nurse realizes this patient is describing which of the following types of muscular dystrophy? 1. Facioscapulohumeral
2. Oculopharyngeal
3. Duchenne
4. Myotonic

Answer 1

Facioscapulohumeral disease is a rare type of muscular dystrophy that affects the face, shoulder girdle, and upper arms and is more common in females. Diagnosis is made according to symptoms of weakness in the eye muscles, facial muscles, and weakness of the muscles within the hip, foot, and abdomen. The progression of this type of muscular dystrophy is insidious and has extended periods of time when the disease seems to be arrested, which is what this patient described to the nurse. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy affects the eyes and throat, leading to dysphagia for solid food. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is usually diagnosed in childhood. Myotonic muscular dystrophy usually affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems.