The ManicaPost
March 21, which saw the world commemorating World Down Syndrome Day, seeks to dispel myths about the disorder as they are so widespread.
In this insertion we provide some of the facts on Down Syndrome.
What is Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome.
Chromosomes are small “packages” of genes in the body.
They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth.
Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes.
Babies with Down Syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21.
A medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’
Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21.
This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby.
Even though people with Down Syndrome might act and look similar, each person has different abilities.
People with Down Syndrome usually have an IQ (a measure of intelligence) in the mildly-to-moderately low range and are slower to speak than other children.
Causes and risk factors
The extra chromosome 21 leads to the physical features and developmental challenges that can occur among people with Down Syndrome.
Researchers know that Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome, but no one knows for sure why Down Syndrome occurs or how many different factors play a role.
One factor that increases the risk for having a baby with Down Syndrome is the mother’s age.
Women who are 35 years or older when they become pregnant are more likely to have a pregnancy affected by Down Syndrome than women who become pregnant at a younger age.
However, the majority of babies with Down Syndrome are born to mothers less than 35 years old, because there are many more births among younger women.
Other health problems
Many people with Down Syndrome have the common facial features and no other major birth defects.
However, some people with Down Syndrome might have one or more major birth defects or other medical problems.
Some of the more common health problems among children with Down Syndrome are listed below:
Hearing loss
Obstructive sleep apnea, which is a condition where the person’s breathing temporarily stops while asleep
Ear infections
Eye diseases
Heart defects present at birth
Health care providers routinely monitor children with Down syndrome for these conditions.
Treatments
Down Syndrome is a life-long condition.
Services early in life will often help children with Down syndrome to improve their physical and intellectual abilities.
Most of these services focus on helping children with Down syndrome develop to their full potential.
These services include speech, occupational, and physical therapy, and they are typically offered through early intervention programmes.
Children with Down Syndrome may also need extra help or attention in school, although many children are included in regular classes. — Online.
