Hypohydrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

Description: Rare Diseases in Sweden Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia belongs to the group of diseases known as ectodermal dysplasias. Alternative names for the disorder are anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA I) and Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia was described as early as 1848 by British physician J. Thurnam. There are more than 150 rare, hereditary types of ectodermal dysplasia, which affect the teeth, sweat glands, skin and hair. The most common form of the disease is hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. The word hypohidrosis means diminished sweating ability, while ectodermal dysplasia refers to defects in the development of the ectoderm, which is the layer of cells in the embryo that develops into skin, hair, teeth, nails and secretory glands (tear glands, salivary glands, and mucous glands in the throat, larynx, respiratory system and intestinal tract).