Edmonton Boy Wins Battle Against Parkinsonism With Help Of Parkinson's Drug

Edmonton, Alberta (AHN) - A 12-year-old boy here was cured of a rare form of Parkinson's disease after taking drugs to treat the neurological and muscular disorder.

Parkinson's expert Dr. Ali Rajput in Saskatchewan province prescribed Sinemet to Andrew Carnegie after diagnosing him with hemiparkinsonism-hemiatrophy syndrome (HSS) in May. The drug instantly eliminated symptoms of the disease and now the boy can move normally.

"It was like this miracle drug," said Deirdre Carnegie, Andrew's mother, according to Canada.com.

The boy started suffering from HHS at age 10, waking up sweating and with a severe headache, stiff body, and cramped muscles. He regularly lost his balance and fell, had difficulty in eating, and had a bigger right foot. But doctors could not identify his condition because Parkinson's disease is rare among children.

His parents began to suspect HSS after researching the disease and brought their son to Rajput, who confirmed the disease through tests.

In Parkinson's disease, cells die that produce dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves and the brain. Sinemet, the drug prescribed to the boy, is a dopamine substitute commonly used to treat Parkinson's.