Down syndrome is
usually diagnosed at birth on the basis of the
typical facial features, hypotonia, and single
palmar crease. Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal
disorder. An estimated 1 in 800 infants are born
with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is also a common
cause of miscarriage. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that results
in varying degrees of physical and mental
retardation. The condition varies in severity,
causing developmental problems that range from mild
to severe. The disorder occurs as a result of extra
genetic material.
Complications
Nearly 50
percent of children with Down syndrome have some type of heart defect.
These heart problems can be life-threatening and may require surgery in
early infancy. These children may also be at increased risk of
developing a variety of other health conditions, including
gastrointestinal blockage, thyroid problems, hearing loss or poor
vision. Other complications may include:
-
Leukemia.
Young children with Down syndrome have 10 to 15 times the risk of
developing leukemia as do children who don't have Down syndrome.
-
Infectious
diseases.
Children with Down syndrome are much more susceptible to infectious
diseases because of abnormalities in their immune systems. Their
risk of contracting pneumonia is 62 times as high as it is for
children who don't have Down syndrome. Additionally, children with
this disorder have a 12-fold chance of dying of an infectious
disease.
-
Impaired
intellectual development.
Intellectual development is impaired for children with Down
syndrome. The degree of mental retardation ranges from mild to
moderate.
-
Dementia.
Later in life, people with Down syndrome have a greatly increased
risk of dementia. Symptoms of dementia often appear before age 40
for people with Down syndrome.
