About fountain syndrome

What is fountain syndrome?

Fountain syndrome is an extremely rare inherited disorder that is characterized by mental retardation; abnormal swelling of the cheeks and lips due to the excessive accumulation of body fluids under the skin (subcutaneous) of the face (edema); skeletal abnormalities; and/or deafness due to malformation of a structure (cochlea) within the inner ear. Fountain syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

What are the symptoms for fountain syndrome?

Cheek swelling symptom was found in the fountain syndrome condition

Although researchers have been able to establish a syndrome with characteristic or “core” symptoms, much about the disorder is not fully understood. Several factors including the small number of identified cases, the lack of large clinical studies, and the possibility of other genes influencing the disorder prevent physicians from developing a complete picture of associated symptoms and prognosis.

In all cases reported in the medical literature, affected individuals have exhibited mild to severe intellectual disability. Individuals with Fountain syndrome may also exhibit several physical abnormalities. For example, fluid may abnormally accumulate under the skin (edema) of the face, especially the lips and cheeks. As a result, the face may appear coarse, abnormally “full,” and swollen. These distinctive facial characteristics may be more pronounced with age.

Fountain syndrome may also be characterized by Deafness at birth (congenital deafness) due to a defect in a bony spiral organ in the inner ear (cochlea). In this type of deafness, although sound is transmitted normally through the external and middle ear, the cochlear malformation in the inner ear causes the Hearing loss (congenital sensorineural deafness). The cochlea normally transforms sound vibrations into nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain. Because congenital sensorineural Deafness results in an inability to hear spoken language, affected infants and children may be unable to develop and comprehend verbal language structure, resulting in an inability to communicate through speech (deaf mutism).

Individuals with Fountain syndrome may also have Skeletal abnormalities including abnormal thickening of the cap of the skull (calvaria) and/or unusually broad, short, and stubby hands and feet. In addition, in some cases, affected individuals may exhibit extreme front-to-back curvature of the spine (hyperkyphosis) and/or short stature.

In some cases, individuals with Fountain syndrome may exhibit additional physical abnormalities. For example, during infancy, some individuals may experience episodes of repeated, uncontrolled electrical disturbances involving both sides of the brain (generalized seizures), be below average height for their age (short stature), an abnormally Large head circumference (macrocephaly), and broad, plump hands.

What are the causes for fountain syndrome?

The exact underlying cause Fountain syndrome is unknown. The disorder is believed to be inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Genetic diseases are determined by two genes, one received from the father and one from the mother.

Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25%.

What are the treatments for fountain syndrome?

The treatment of Fountain syndrome is directed toward the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. Treatment may require the efforts of a team of specialists working together to systematically and comprehensively plan an affected child’s treatment. Such specialists may include pediatricians; physicians who diagnose and treat disorders of the ears, nose, and throat (otolaryngologists); specialists who assess and treat hearing problems (audiologists); those who specialize in abnormalities of speech and language development (speech-language pathologists); specialists who diagnose and treat skeletal disorders (orthopedists); neurologists; physical therapists; surgeons; and/or other health care professionals. Genetic counseling may also be of benefit for affected individuals and their families.

Specific therapies for the treatment of Fountain syndrome are symptomatic and supportive. In some cases, various orthopedic techniques may be used to help treat and/or correct skeletal abnormalities associated with Fountain syndrome. For example, extreme front-to-back curvature of the spine (kyphosis) may be treated with a combination of exercises and physical therapy, other supportive techniques, braces, and/or casts.

For individuals with Fountain syndrome who experience generalized infantile seizures, anticonvulsant drug therapy may be prescribed to help prevent, reduce, or control such seizures.

Early intervention is important in ensuring that children with Fountain syndrome reach their potential. Services that may be beneficial may include special remedial education, special services for children with congenital sensorineural deafness and mutism, and other medical, social, and/or vocational services.

What are the risk factors for fountain syndrome?

Fountain syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder of the multisystem. It is also known as a deafness-skeletal dysplasia-coarse face with full lips syndrome, deafness-skeletal dysplasia-lip granuloma syndrome.

1. There occurs mental retardation, intellectual disability, abnormal swelling of the cheeks and lips because of excessive accumulation of body fluids under the skin (subcutaneous) of the face (edema), skeletal abnormalities, deafness because of malformation of a structure (cochlea) in the inner part of the ear, this can cause loss of hearing.
2. It becomes difficult for the affected infants and children to develop verbal language structure; this results in deaf mutism (inability to communicate through speech).
3. Skeletal abnormalities arise that include abnormal thickening of the cap of the skull, i.e. calvaria, unusually broad, short, stubby hands, and feet.
4. Generalized seizures, i.e. episodes of repeated, uncontrolled electrical disturbances that involve both sides of the brain, an abnormally large head, i.e. macrocephaly, and broad, plump hands.
5. Fountain syndrome affects males and females both. Various specialists such as pediatricians, physicians, otolaryngologists, audiologists, orthopedists, neurologists, physical therapists, and surgeons come together to treat fountain syndrome patients.
6. To control and prevent generalized infantile seizures arising because of fountain syndrome, anticonvulsant drug therapy is recommended.
7. Early intervention is done for children who have fountain syndrome so as to reach their potential.
8. Services that give benefit involve special remedial education, congenital sensorineural deafness and mutism services for children, also as social, vocational, and medical services.

Symptoms
Fluid may abnormally accumulate under the skin of the face, especially the lips and cheeks,Face may appear swollen,Deafness at birth due to a defect in a bony spiral organ in the inner ear,Skeletal abnormalities including abnormal thickening of the cap of the skull and/or unusually broad, short, and stubby hands and feet,In some cases, affected individuals may exhibit extreme front-to-back curvature of the spine and/or short stature
Condition
Congenital deafness,Congenital sensorineural deafness,Hyperkyphosis
Drugs
Anticonvulsant drug therapy to help prevent, reduce, or control such seizures

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