Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare and complex genetic condition. Babies born with this condition will usually have poor muscle tone and a weak cry.

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome may take a long time to feed and gain weight slowly. Typically by the time a child with Prader-Willi syndrome reaches 2 or 3 years of age, he or she will have a dramatic increase in appetite and begin to overeat, leading to rapid weight gain and eventually obesity.

The symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome include:

Slow feeding during infancy
Weak cry at birth
Insatiable appetite beginning around the age of 2 or 3
Rapid weight gain beginning around the age of 2 or 3
Obesity
Low muscle tone which may be profound in infancy
Small hands and feet
Short stature
Intellectual disability
Behavioral issues

Diagnosis of Prader-Willi Syndrome

The doctor may detect Prader-Willi syndrome if your child is born with poor muscle tone and feeds poorly. If your child's doctor suspects Prader-Willi syndrome, he or she will perform a blood test to confirm the diagnosis. Further testing may be required to determine the exact cause of the condition.

Treatments

There is no cure for Prader-Willi syndrome. However, your child’s doctor can help you access services and therapies that may help the symptoms caused by the condition.

Treatment options may include:

Behavioral interventions. Behavioral issues are common in Prader-Willi syndrome. Treatment may involve working with a behavioral therapy specialist, although most patients require medicine to help control these behaviors beginning in early childhood.
Dietary interventions. Dietitians will work with you and your child to go over healthy portion sizes and food options to help control weight gain.
Hormone therapy. Growth hormone is specifically used to increase lean muscle mass, improve final height, reduce some effects of obesity and improve mental processing speed.

Key Points to Remember

Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic condition.
The most common symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome are low muscle tone and a tendency to overeat.
There is no cure for Prader-Willi syndrome.
The symptoms can be treated with dietary interventions, behavioral interventions and/or hormone therapy.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the following websites to find more information about Prader-Willi syndrome.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Genetics Home Reference

This website from the U.S. National Library of Medicine provides easy-to-read information about Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi Syndrome Association

The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association offers educational information and support for individuals and families living with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.