Overview - About Familial Dysautonomia

FD is an abbreviation for Familial Dysautonomia, a fatal, genetic, neurologic disease present at birth. To best describe this disorder, consider the clues in its name. Familial means the condition is inherited. Dysautonomia (pronounced "dis-aw-tuh-noh-mee-uh") means a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls automatic body functions, such as breathing, digestion and circulation. These functions occur involuntarily. People with FD have an impaired autonomic nervous system, rendering each breath, swallow and heartbeat undependable and erratic.

In addition to the detrimental effects of FD on the organs that involuntarily function (e.g., lungs, stomach and heart), FD also impairs a part of the sensory nervous system that controls pain and temperature. Thus, broken bones, burns and frostbite often go undetected.