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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffTips to help you take care of your child with Prader-Willi syndrome include the following:
- Pick up your child carefully. Children with Prader-Willi syndrome have poor muscle tone, which increases their risk of slipping between your hands when you lift them under their armpits.
- Take steps to help prevent binge eating. Adhering to a low-calorie diet is essential to keep your child from becoming overweight. Try to avoid purchasing high-calorie snacks. Store food out of your child's reach. Lock pantries, refrigerators and cupboards. Use small dishes for serving meals.
- Supplement your child's diet. If your child is on a restricted-calorie diet, ask your doctor if supplemental vitamins or minerals are necessary to ensure balanced nutrition.
- Schedule appropriate screening tests. Be sure to talk to your doctor about how often you need to have your child screened for complications of Prader-Willi syndrome, including diabetes, osteoporosis and an abnormally curved spine (scoliosis).
References
- Cassidy SB, et al. Prader-Willi syndrome. European Journal of Human Genetics. 2009;17:3.
- Prader-Willi syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. National Library of Medicine. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/prader-willi-syndrome/show/print. Accessed Feb. 23, 2011.
- Scheimann AO. Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/index.html. Accessed Feb. 15, 2011.
- McCandless SE, et al. Health Supervision for Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome. Pediatrics. 2011;127:195.
- Cassidy SB, et al. Prader-Willi Syndrome. In: Pagon RA, et al., eds. GeneReviews. Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington; 1993. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1330/. Accessed Feb. 23, 2011.
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