Prader-Willi syndrome

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome share a distinctive constellation of primary features:

poor muscle tone (hypotonia)
mental retardation
small gonads and sexual immturity
morbid obesity

Additional problems common with Prader-Willi syndrome include

small teeth
tooth enamel defects
high-arched palate
small hands and feet
scoliosis
compulsive eating
compulsive skin-picking

The majority of affected children are found to have specific chromosomal abnormalities on chromosome 15. They are all prone to multiple medical problems, especially dental caries, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, kidney disease, and obesity-related respiratory impairment (pickwickian syndrome).

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