Children with Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome - a hereditary disease, trisomy of 21st chromosome (these chromosomes is three instead of two). Chromosomes are present in every cell of the body and contain a set of genes. Patient with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome.

The disease manifests many symptoms. These include specific facial features, delayed physical and mental development, problems with eyesight and hearing, heart pathologies. Severity of these symptoms in different people is very different. Some have raised serious problems, while others - they are less pronounced.

Down syndrome affects one out of 800 infants. This is one of the most common congenital diseases.

What Causes
The anomaly occurs at the moment of conception, during cell division. What it is called, is unknown. Down's syndrome child is not related to the behavior of the mother during pregnancy. We only know that women over age 35 give birth to a sick baby's risk increases. However, most children with Down syndrome (80%) born to mothers younger than 35 years.

To date, how to prevent the disease does not exist. Perhaps only by means of tests, even during pregnancy, to identify the risk or the presence of Down syndrome in the fetus.

Symptoms
Symptoms of Down Syndrome can be expressed in very different degrees. However, several features in common, usually found in all patients. These include:

* Flat face
* Slanted eyes
* Short neck
* Irregularly shaped ears
* A deep furrow in the center of the palm
* Thick tongue
* Hypotonia of muscles and weak joints
* Eyes with mottled iris
* Truncated hands and feet

Often Down syndrome in patients with mild or moderate degree of suffering mental retardation.

On the basis of outward signs of the doctor at birth may put a child diagnosed. Then the diagnosis is confirmed by genetic tests.

Future of the patient with Down syndrome
Development of children with Down syndrome is delayed. They are slower growing and shorter than peers. Can develop and co-morbidities:

* Heart defects
* Problems with vision and hearing
* Weakened immunity (susceptibility to infectious diseases)
* Problems with the bowel
* Problems with the thyroid
* Obesity
* Leukemia
* Early dementia

How to help the patient?
A child with Down syndrome can certainly help - to develop his abilities and give a chance to live a long happy life. First of all, you need to get an early start to treatment. An important component of it are special exercises for the development of speech, motor skills, and abilities. Talk to your doctor or psychologist. In some regions, there are special centers for teaching children with Down syndrome.
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