What is the brain condition Nora Quoirin suffered from? Holoprosencephaly signs and symptoms
BRITISH teen Nora Quoirin was tragically found dead in the Malaysian jungle on August 13 after she was reported missing a week earlier.
Nora suffered from holoprosencephaly - but what is the disease, and what did her family say about it? Here's what we know about the brain defect.
What is holoprosencephaly?
Holoprosencephaly is a rare developmental brain defect that affects around 1 in 20,000 kids.
It occurs when the brain fails to divide properly into the right and left hemispheres.
There are 4 types of holoprosencephaly, distinguished by severity.
From most to least severe, the 4 types are alobar, semi-lobar, lobar and middle interhemispheric variant.
What are the signs and symptoms of holoprosencephaly ?
The most severe forms of holoprosencephaly cause seizures and, in some cases, severe mental difficulties.
Typical facial defects involve the eyes, nose and upper lip.
There is no standard course of treatment for holoprosencephaly - doctors will treat an individual's various symptoms and support the patient as best they can.
The prognosis for individuals with the disorder depends on the severity of the brain and facial deformities.
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What did Nora Quoirin's family say about the disease?
Nora Quorin's family said: "Nora was born with holoprosencephaly; this means that she has a smaller brain.
"All her life she has spent a lot of time in hospital. When she was born, she needed operations to help her breathing.
"She has specialists that monitor her growth, her physical abilities and her strength, and especially her mental capacity.
"Nora has always needed dedicated specialist educational provision, and now attends a school for children and young people with learning and communication difficulties."
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