Table 1.

Organs affected by ectodermal dysplasia

Affected organ	Features
Hair	Scalp and body hair may be thin, sparse, and light in color Hair may be coarse, excessively brittle, curly or even twisted
Nails	Fingernails and toenails may be thick, abnormally shaped, discolored, ridged, slow growing, or brittle Sometimes nails may be absent Cuticles may be prone to infection
Teeth	Abnormal tooth development resulting in missing teeth or growth of teeth that are peg-shaped or pointed Tooth enamel is also defective Dental treatment is necessary and children as young as 2 years may need dentures
Sweat glands	Eccrine sweat glands may be absent or sparse so that sweat glands function abnormally or not at all Without normal sweat production, the body cannot regulate temperature properly Children may experience recurrent high fever that may lead to seizures and neurological problems Overheating is a common problem, particularly in warmer climates