For Malayalis, actor Nepoleon is Mundakkal Sekharan forever, thanks to his powerful antagonist character in Mohanlal-starrer Devasuram. The actor has been settled in the US for the treatment of his son Dhanush, who suffers from the condition of muscular dystrophy. Recently, the photos of Dhanush's wedding, celebrated in Japan, have been going viral on social media. Due to Dhanush's medical condition, his mom, Jayasudha, performed the chain or 'thali' ceremony with his bride, Akshaya, on his behalf. The wedding, celebrated following Hindu customs, was also attended by many big stars from the movie industry. The new couple also staged a dance performance as part of the celebration.
What is muscular dystrophy?
According to the Mayo Clinic, it's a group of diseases that cause loss of muscle mass and progressive weakness. In those who suffer from this condition, mutated genes interfere with the production of proteins required to form healthy muscles. There is no cure for this condition, and it has many varieties. The most common variety starts in childhood and is found mostly in boys. Some other varieties can surface after adulthood, too. Medicines and therapies can help manage the disease and also slow down the pace of its course.
The most common type of muscular dystrophy is called 'Duchenne' type. Here are its signs and symptoms:
1) Frequent falls
2) Large calf muscles
3) Muscle pain and stiffness
4) Learning disabilities
5) Waddling gait
6) Walking on the toes
7) Delayed growth
8) Difficulty rising from a lying or sitting position
9) Trouble running and jumping
Other types of muscular dystrophy
Myotonic, congenital, limb-girdle, facioscapulohumeral aka FSHD are a few other types of the disease. If you notice a tendency for increased clumsiness and falling in your child or you, it's better to seek medical advice.