A toddler is displaying signs and symptoms of weakness and muscle atrophy. The pediatric neurologist suspects it may be a lower motor neuron disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The patient's family asks how he got this. The nurse will respond
A)"This could result from playing in soil and then ingesting bacteria that are now attacking his motor neurons."
B)"No one really knows how this disease is formed. We just know that in time, he may grow out of it."
C)"This is a degenerative disorder that tends to be inherited as an autosomalrecessive trait."
D)"This is a segmental demyelination disorder that affects all nerve roots and eventually all muscle groups as well."

Question

A toddler is displaying signs and symptoms of weakness and muscle atrophy. The pediatric neurologist suspects it may be a lower motor neuron disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The patient's family asks how he got this. The nurse will respond 
A)"This could result from playing in soil and then ingesting bacteria that are now attacking his motor neurons."
B)"No one really knows how this disease is formed. We just know that in time, he may grow out of it."
C)"This is a degenerative disorder that tends to be inherited as an autosomalrecessive trait."
D)"This is a segmental demyelination disorder that affects all nerve roots and eventually all muscle groups as well."

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

SMA is a distinctive group of degenerative disorders involving LMNs that begins in childhood. Answer choice A relates to botulism. It is known which gene is involved in SMA. Answer choice D does not describe SMA.

A Toddler Is Displaying Signs and Symptoms of Weakness and Muscle