What is Down Syndrome?
By Jane Orville
Down syndrome is a disorder in which the child has extra genetic material. Since Dr. Down was the first person to give the syndrome a name, the disorder is known as Down syndrome.
The Common Forms of Downs
By Jane Orville
Down syndrome is a disorder in which the child has extra genetic material. Since Dr. Down was the first person to give the syndrome a name, the disorder is known as Down syndrome.
The Common Forms of Downs
There are three distinct forms of Down syndrome. Ninety-five percent of children born with Down syndrome have Trisomy 21.
Translocation occurs when part of chromosome 21 breaks off and attaches to another chromosome, changing the genetic makeup. In this form of Down syndrome, each cell has the normal 46 chromosomes, but there is extra genetic material from the broken off chromosome.
The third and final form is called Mosaicism, and is the rarest form of Down syndrome, occurring in only 2% of all cases. People with Mosaicism may not be as affected with the physical and/or developmentally delayed characteristics of those born with the other two forms of Down syndrome.
Common Physical Traits
Babies with Down syndrome are usually diagnosed at birth or shortly thereafter. Most children with the syndrome will have some or all of these traits:
• Low muscle tone
• Small nose and flat nasal bridge
• An upward slant to the eyes (almond shaped)
• Small skin folds on the inner corner of the eyes
• Tongue large for size of child’s mouth
• Small, sometimes abnormally shaped ears
• A single crease across the center of the palm
• Fifth finger, the pinky, has only one crease instead of two
• Larger than normal space between the large and second toe
• Joints are hyper flexible, able to extend greater than average
These physical traits are characteristic of a baby with Down syndrome, but in order to determine if a child does indeed have the disorder, a chromosome analysis will need to be performed.
Down syndrome - Symptoms and Characteristics
By Tom Chuong
Generally children with Down syndrome show slower physical and mental development than a normal child. Women with late pregnancies are more prone to having children with Down syndrome. Most of the children with Down syndrome will have broad facial profile, a short neck, a broad forehead, an upward slant to the eye, white spots (Brushfield spots) in the iris of the eyes etc.
Children with Down syndrome suffer from poor muscle tone. Cardiac problems are mostly associated with this condition and such children suffer from progressive heart problems. The most common congenital heart defect in such children is Atrioventricular septal defect. Children with Down syndrome also suffer from recurring respiratory ailments like cough and cold.
Vision and hearing problems, epilepsy, skin problems and thyroid problems are also associated with Down syndrome. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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• Low muscle tone
• Small nose and flat nasal bridge
• An upward slant to the eyes (almond shaped)
• Small skin folds on the inner corner of the eyes
• Tongue large for size of child’s mouth
• Small, sometimes abnormally shaped ears
• A single crease across the center of the palm
• Fifth finger, the pinky, has only one crease instead of two
• Larger than normal space between the large and second toe
• Joints are hyper flexible, able to extend greater than average
These physical traits are characteristic of a baby with Down syndrome, but in order to determine if a child does indeed have the disorder, a chromosome analysis will need to be performed.
Down syndrome - Symptoms and Characteristics
By Tom Chuong
Generally children with Down syndrome show slower physical and mental development than a normal child. Women with late pregnancies are more prone to having children with Down syndrome. Most of the children with Down syndrome will have broad facial profile, a short neck, a broad forehead, an upward slant to the eye, white spots (Brushfield spots) in the iris of the eyes etc.
Children with Down syndrome suffer from poor muscle tone. Cardiac problems are mostly associated with this condition and such children suffer from progressive heart problems. The most common congenital heart defect in such children is Atrioventricular septal defect. Children with Down syndrome also suffer from recurring respiratory ailments like cough and cold.
Vision and hearing problems, epilepsy, skin problems and thyroid problems are also associated with Down syndrome. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Other Posts:
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