What is Charcot Marie Tooth disease?
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a group of inherited conditions that damage the peripheral nerves.
What causes Charcot Marie Tooth disease?
CMT is caused by an inherited fault in one of the many genes responsible for the development of the peripheral nerves. This fault means the nerves become damaged over time.
A child with CMT may have inherited the genetic fault responsible for the condition from one or both of their parents.
There’s no single faulty gene that causes CMT. There are many types of CMT that are caused by different genetic faults and these can be inherited in several different ways.
The chances of passing CMT to your child depend on the specific genetic faults you and your partner carry.
What are the symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth disease?
People with CMT may have:
- Muscle weakness in their feet, ankles, legs and hands
- An awkward way of walking (gait)
- Highly arched or very flat feet
- Numbness in the feet, arms and hands
CMT is a progressive condition. This means the symptoms get slowly worse, making everyday tasks increasingly difficult.
