Symptoms of familial dysautonomia
Symptoms of FD begin in infancy. Early symptoms may include: Difficulty feeding. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Inability to maintain body temperature. Lack of tears when crying. Poor growth. Poor muscle tone (hypotonia). As a child ages, they may hold their breath for extended periods of time. This breath-holding behavior usually ends by 6 years of age. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include: Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia). Abnormal sense of taste. Abnormal spine curving (scoliosis). Balance problems and gait disorders. Bedwetting. Chronic acid reflux (GERD). Developmental delays, such as delayed speech and trouble walking. Excess saliva. Eye problems, including dry eyes and crossed eyes (strabismus). Inability to feel pain and temperature changes. Low vision and vision loss. Lung infections. Poor bone quality (osteoporosis) and increased risk of bone fractures. Poor control of breathing, especially during sleep. Seizures (epilepsy). Vomiting.