children s health issues
Mitochondrial Disorders
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS)
Children who have MELAS may have muscle weakness and pain, recurring headaches, hearing loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, and seizures. Most affected people have Overview of Stroke beginning before age 40. These episodes often cause temporary muscle weakness on one side of the body, altered consciousness, vision abnormalities, seizures, and severe headaches resembling migraines. Repeated stroke-like episodes can progressively damage the brain, leading to vision loss, problems with movement, and dementia. Symptoms of MELAS most often appear in late childhood and adolescence but can begin at any age. No specific treatment is available for MELAS, but various drugs and treatments are used to manage symptoms. 