What it means
A rare genetic disorder, named after the British eye doctor Warren Tay and the American neurologist Bernard Sachs. It is autosomal recessive: a child must inherit a faulty gene from both parents. In the common infant form, the baby seems healthy at first, then from a few months of age loses skills it had gained; there is no cure, and children usually die in early childhood. It is more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish, French Canadian and Cajun descent.
For the nurse
Carrier screening and genetic counseling are offered to people at higher risk before or early in pregnancy. Care for an affected child focuses on comfort, seizures, feeding and breathing, and support for the family.
Related terms
seizure
A sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that changes movement, feeling, behavior or awareness.
palliative care
Care that relieves pain, other symptoms and stress for people with serious illness, at any stage and alongside other treatment.