Specialist Paediatrician, Hannah-Sharon Mills has explained that the type of spinal muscular atrophy one suffers varies depending on when the symptoms kick in.

According to her, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic condition that can weaken, damage, and kill some specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord called motor neurons.

Speaking in an interview with Asieduwaa Akumia on Prime Morning, Dr. Mills indicated that there are five types of SMAs that affect the body differently. However, the only way doctors can diagnose the disease is if they are able to determine at what age the symptoms started appearing in the life of an affected person.

"There are five types of spinal muscular atrophy... The type varies depending on when the symptoms begin. So, type zero begins before the baby is born, and type 1 usually begins within the first six months of life, which can affect a baby’s ability to walk. Type 2 is usually between 6 and 18 months old. This affects their ability to walk. Types 3 and 4 affect adolescents and older adults," she said on Thursday.

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Dr. Mills further explained that though SMAs are popular among children, adults can also get affected. The only difference is that adults suffer milder symptoms as compared to children from age zero to the adolescent stage, who suffer brutal symptoms. Type zero, according to her, is the most severe type of SMA that affects children even before birth.

She also said that as opposed to the sickle cell test, SMAs test are not readily available and accessible to couples before marriage. This deprives them of the chance to know the possible potential of making babies with this condition. Adults living with this condition mostly live in hindsight, as their symptoms are hardly detectable or noticeable.

However, she said an indicator that can help easily detect SMA is heredity or genetics. This is because individuals with family members who are carriers of the condition have a higher chance of also contracting the disease.

"With SMA carriers, it’s a bit more difficult because it is not routinely checked for, unlike sickle cell, where usually when you go for counseling before you get married, they ask you to check your sickle cell status. Genetic screening for SMA is not readily available. So, it's more difficult to check and know whether you’re a carrier.

"But if you have a family history of people dying early, having feeding, swallowing difficulties, or not developing with the crawling and walking milestones as they should, that is an indicator that they have SMA," she said.

The specialist paediatrician pointed out the fact that spinal muscular atrophy has no cure yet. The only way people living with this condition can preserve their lives is by visiting the hospital consistently so it can be managed. She further revealed that the cost of the treatment and management of this disease is very expensive, especially in Africa.

SMAs affect both genders equally, hence, Dr. Mills encouraged people to take note of the symptoms of the ailment to aid the identification of the changes in their bodies so as to report to the nearest health centre quickly.

She recommended that more awareness should be created, and people living with SMAs should make a conscious effort to see the doctors regularly for longevity.