Disease Information

This impaired cellular function has a downstream impact upon organ systems, with typical presentation reflected as skeletal deformation, coarse facial features, hearing loss, cognitive disabilities, immune defects, and central nervous system involvement.²

The prevalence of Alpha Mannosidosis is not known exactly.
However, a number of reports from different countries estimate that it occurs in approximately one in every million babies born worldwide.³ The condition is often diagnosed and treated using a multi-disciplinary approach, involving paediatricians, orthopaedics, ophthalmologists, otologists neurologists, immunologists, neurosurgeons and physiotherapists.⁴

Alpha Mannosidosis is a progressive disorder, and its presence should be suspected in patients with mental cognitive disabilities, skeletal changes (eg swollen joints, curved spine), hearing loss and recurrent infections. Although children with the condition are often born seemingly normal, their condition deteriorates with age. Alpha Mannosidosis can impact on a patient’s quality of life in many ways, including their ability to live independently, socialise or find employment.^{5 6}