children s health issues
Familial Periodic Paralysis
Introduction
Familial periodic paralysis is a rare inherited disorder that causes sudden attacks of weakness and paralysis. There are 4 different forms, which involve abnormalities in how Overview of Electrolytes , such as sodium and potassium, are moved in and out of cells. Muscles do not respond normally to stimulation if the blood potassium level is too low or high. Weakness is intermittent, affecting mainly the limbs, and is often brought on by exercising or eating too many or too few carbohydrates. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms, a check of the potassium level in the blood, and the results of an exercise test. Avoiding triggers that cause attacks and taking certain medications can prevent attacks effectively. Attacks of familial periodic paralysis occur in response to the amount of potassium in a person's blood. Potassium is an Overview of Electrolytes and is necessary for the normal functioning of cells, nerves, and muscles (see Familial periodic paralysis is Dominant disorders , which means only one affected parent is needed to pass the disorder on to offspring. The precise form that the disorder takes varies among different families. There are 4 forms: Hypokalemic Hyperkalemic Thyrotoxic Andersen-Tawil syndrome In hypokalemic periodic paralysis, the paralysis is caused by low levels of potassium in the blood ( Hypokalemia (Low Level of Potassium in the Blood) ). In hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, the paralysis is caused by high levels of potassium in the blood ( Hyperkalemia (High Level of Potassium in the Blood) ). In thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, the paralysis is caused by low levels of potassium in the blood, and people also have signs of an overactive thyroid gland ( Hyperthyroidism ). In Andersen-Tawil syndrome, potassium levels can be high, low, or normal. 