| Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a genetic disorder | | | | (knees and elbows), shins and forearms. The joints |
| that may be recessive or dominant depending on the | | | | are affected with this type, but not to the same |
| type of EDS you have. That means if you have a | | | | degree as hypermobility EDS. They are prone to |
| dominant type and have children, those children have | | | | dislocation and may affect the large motor skill |
| a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. If you have a | | | | development in infants. |
| recessive type, each child has a 25% chance of | | | | Vascular EDS is the most serious type of EDS |
| inheriting the disease and a 50% chance of being a | | | | because it primarily affects the blood vessels, making |
| carrier of that disease. It is for this reason that many | | | | them very fragile and prone to tearing. Luckily, it is |
| EDS sufferers consult with a genetic counselor, | | | | also one of the rarer forms, affecting only one in |
| someone who can assess the risks of genetic | | | | 100,000 to 200,000 people. This form also has elastic |
| disorders to you and your children, prior to having | | | | skin and loose joints, mainly the small joints of the |
| children. This is the only way to prevent the disease. | | | | fingers and toes. Sufferers of this type of EDS may |
| Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is classified into six major | | | | also have very thin skin, making their veins very |
| types or groups. It was originally divided into 11 | | | | prominent. |
| different types, but scientists reclassified them based | | | | The final three types, kyphoscoliosis, arthrochalasia |
| on signs and symptoms in 1997. This reclassification | | | | and dermatosparaxis, are very rare. Only about 60 |
| gave us the current six major types; hypermobility | | | | cases of kyphoscoliosis EDS have been reported |
| type, classical type, vascular type, kyphoscoliosis | | | | worldwide. The main symptoms of this type of EDS |
| type, arthrochalasia type and dermatosparaxis type. | | | | are curving of the spine (scoliosis), eye problems |
| There is a final grouping, other types, that is a | | | | including fragility and progressive muscle weakness. |
| catch-all group for the extremely rare cases that | | | | Arthrochalasia EDS is also rare; only 30 or so cases |
| have only been seen in a handful of patients, usually | | | | have been reported worldwide. This EDS is |
| all in the same family. All of the types affect your | | | | characterized by very loose joints, including the hips, |
| joints and many also affect your skin. | | | | which may affect the development of large motor |
| The hypermobility type is mainly characterized by | | | | skills such as walking. Sufferers of this type also have |
| loose, unstable joints and chronic joint pain. The loose | | | | elastic skin that bruises easily, an earlier onset of |
| joints increase the sufferer's risk of dislocating or | | | | arthritis and an increased risk of bone fractures and |
| straining the joint. Specific exercises to strengthen | | | | loss. The dermatosparaxis type of EDS is the rarest |
| the muscles surrounding the joints will decrease the | | | | of the three, only about 10 cases have been |
| risk of dislocation and/or straining. You may find relief | | | | reported worldwide. The primary symptom of this |
| from the joint pain with over the counter pain | | | | type is extremely loose and sagging skin. The joints |
| medications. Your skin will be affected, but to what | | | | are also affected, however, and may delay large |
| degree is uncertain. Hypermobility EDS is the most | | | | motor skill development in children. |
| common type of EDS, affecting one in 10,000 to | | | | The final grouping, Others, is a catch-all grouping for |
| 15,000 people. | | | | the extremely rare and not well documented cases |
| Classical EDS is the second most common type of | | | | of EDS. The types here have a variety of |
| EDS. It affects one in 20,000 to 40,000 people. The | | | | symptoms, ranging from fragile skin without bruising |
| main symptoms with this type of EDS are very | | | | or loose joints to chronic diarrhea and low blood |
| elastic skin that feels like velvet, bruises easily and is | | | | pressure. If you suspect you have any of the types |
| slow to heal wounds. Some sufferers also experience | | | | of EDS, you need to see your doctor right away. |
| noncancerous skin growths on major pressure points | | | | |