FG Syndrome Health Article

Treatment and management

FG syndrome (FGS) is a genetic disorder and does not have a specific therapy that removes, cures, or fixes all signs of the disorder.

Management and treatment for FGS mainly focuses on the treatment of specific symptoms. More specifically, individuals with incompletely formed anal openings and serious heart defects would need surgery to try to correct the problems. Individuals affected by FGS who have mental retardation benefit from special school and early intervention programs.

Prognosis

The prognosis of an individual affected by FG syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms by which they are affected. For example, approximately one-third of individuals affected by FGS will die before two years of age due to the severity of heart defects and anal abnormalities.

Most individuals affected by FGS who do not have severe physical problems, such as serious heart defects and anal abnormalities, are still affected by mental retardation. Individuals affected by FGS who have mental retardation benefit from special schools and early intervention programs.

BOOKS

Smith, Raomayne, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, eds. Children with Mental Retardation, A Parents' Guide. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 1993.

Trainer, Marilyn, and Helen Featherstone. Differences in Common: Straight Talk on Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, and Your Life. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 1991.

PERIODICALS

FG Syndrome Family Alliance Print Newsletter FG Syndrome Family Alliance, subscribe by sending email to : FGSNewsl@aol.com.

ORGANIZATIONS

Arc (a National Organization on Mental Retardation). 1010 Wayne Ave., Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (800) 433-5255. <http://www.thearclink.org>.

WEBSITES

The Family Village. <http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu>.

FG Syndrome Family Alliance. FG Syndrome Homepage. <http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/3687/>.

On-line Mendelian Inheritance of Man. <http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Omim/>.

Dawn A. Jacob, MS, CGC