Health Encyclopedia

Ectodermal dysplasia

Definition

Ectodermal dysplasia is a group of conditions in which there is abnormal development of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, or sweat glands.

Alternative Names

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

There are many different types of ectodermal dysplasia.

Many gene defects can cause ectodermal dysplasias. The most common form of ectodermal dysplasia usually affects men. Other forms of the disease affect men and women equally.

Symptoms

People with ectodermal dysplasia may not sweat or may have decreased sweating because of a lack of sweat glands.

Children with the disease may have difficulty controlling fevers. Mild illness can produce extremely high fevers, because the skin cannot sweat and control temperature properly.

Affected adults are unable to tolerate a warm environment and need special measures to keep a normal body temperature.

Other symptoms include:

Abnormal nails
Abnormal or missing teeth
Absent or very thin hair
Absent or decreased tears
Decreased skin color (pigment)
Foul-smelling nasal discharge
Heat intolerance
Inability to sweat
Large forehead
Light coloring
Lower than normal number of teeth
Low nasal bridge
Poor hearing
Poor temperature regulation
Poor vision
Thin hair
Thin skin

Signs and tests

Tests that may be done include:

Biopsy of the mucus membranes
Biopsy of the skin
Genetic testing (available for some types of this disorder)

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for this disorder.

Some things you can do include:

Wear a wig and dentures to improve appearance.
Use artificial tears to replace normal tearing and prevent drying of the eyes.
Spray the nostrils with saline nose spray often to remove debris and prevent infection.
Live in a cooler climate and take cooling water baths or use water sprays to keep a normal body temperature (water evaporating from the skin replaces the cooling function of sweat evaporating from the skin).

Expectations (prognosis)

Having ectodermal dysplasia will not shorten your life span, but you must pay constant attention to temperature regulation and other problems associated with this condition.

Complications

Brain damage caused by increased body temperature
Seizures caused by high fever (febrile seizures)

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if your child shows symptoms of this disorder.

Prevention

If you have a family history of ectodermal dysplasia and you are planning to have children, genetic counseling is recommended. In many cases it is possible to diagnose ectodermal dysplasia while the baby is still in the womb.

Review Date:3/25/2008
Reviewed By:Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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