Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa and Receiving Social Security Disability
Epidermolysis bullosa is actually a group of inherited disorders that cause your skin to be extremely fragile. As a result of this, skin blisters form in response to minor injury or heat or friction from rubbing or scratching. Most of the forms of epidermolysis bullosa show up in infants and young children. However, the signs and symptoms of these disorders may not show up until adolescence or early adulthood in some people who have mild forms of epidermolysis bullosa. The milder forms of epidermolysis bullosa may get better with age, but the severe forms of the disorder can cause serious complications and even be fatal. Epidermolysis bullosa develops in all racial and ethnic groups. The occurrence of this disorder is about equal in men and women. Fortunately, it is a rare disorder that is estimated to occur in 50 out of every one million live births. Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is one of the major types of epidermolysis bullosa. It is usually congenital. This means that it is a disorder that is present at birth. Junctional epidermolysis bullosa is usually a severe type of this disorder. As mentioned at the beginning, junctional epidermolysis bullosa is a genetic inherited disorder. This means that you get it from your parents. The pattern of inheritance is what is known as autosomal recessive. This means that both of your parents have to have the defective (faulty) gene in order for you to have the possibility of having this disorder. The primary sign or symptom of junctional epidermolysis bullosa is the eruption of fluid-filled blisters (bullae) on your skin. They usually show up on your hands and feet as a result of friction. These blisters typically develop in different areas. The blisters may heal without scarring in the milder forms of this disorder. There are other signs and symptoms that you may experience with junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Some of these are:- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Hyperkeratosis
- Atrophic scarring
- Scarring alopecia
- Excessive sweating
- Loss or deformity of your toenails and fingernails
- Milia (tiny white bumps or small cysts on your skin)
- Dental abnormalities
- Internal blistering that may occur on your esophagus, stomach, urinary tract, intestines, throat or upper airway.
