Down syndrome and how it's managed.

Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21 is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small "packages" of genes in the body that determine how a fetus body forms during pregnancy and how it functions as it grows in the womb and after birth. Normally, a baby is born with a sum total of 46 chromosomes but babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of the chromosomes which is chromosome 21. This extra copy will interfere with the normal body and brain development which is likely bring about both mental and physical challenges.

People with Down syndrome usually have a mild-to-moderately low range IQ (a measure of intelligence). They are also slower to speak, read and learn than normal children. Some common physical features that are identified with Down syndrome people include:

1.       A short neck

2.       A flattened face especially the bridge of the nose

3.        Almond shaped eyes that are slanted

4.        Small ears

5.        Small hands and feet

6.        A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth

7.        Shortness in height as children and adults

8.        Poor muscle tone and loose joints

9.        Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb

10.     A single line across the palm of the hand (palmar crease)

11.     Tiny white spots on the iris of the eye

 

Types of Down syndrome

Majorly, there are three types of Down syndrome. These are:

> Trisomy 21: It's the most common one. About 95% of Down syndrome patients have Trisomy 21. With Trisomy 21, each cell in the body has 3 separate copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual 2 copies.

> Translocation Down syndrome: This type accounts for a small percentage, 3% of people with Down syndrome. It occurs when an extra part or a whole extra chromosome 21 is present but is attached or "trans-located" to a different chromosome rather than being a separate of chromosome 21.

> Mosaic Down syndrome: This type affects about 2% of the people with Down syndrome. Mosaic means mixture or combination, so with this type of Down syndrome, some of the cells have 3 copies of chromosome 21 while other cells maintain the typical two copies of chromosome 21.The features identifying Mosaic Down syndrome are similar to the features identifying the other types of Down syndrome but they are fewer in number. This happens due to the presence of some or many cells with the ideal number of chromosomes required.

Though there are 3 types of Down syndrome, you cannot tell the difference between each type without looking at the chromosomes because they share similar physical features and behaviors.

What Causes Down Syndrome and What Are the Risk Factors

Down syndrome is caused by the existence of the chromosome 21, but why it occurs and how many different factors play a role in its existence is not yet clear.

The factor that increases the risk for having a baby with Down syndrome is the mother's age. Women who are 35 years old and above are likely to have their pregnancy affected by Down syndrome than those who get pregnant at a younger age. However, right now the majority of babies  born with Down syndrome are born of young mothers below 35 years of age. Therefore, at the moment, before the causes of Down syndrome and the factors that could increase one's chances of bearing such a child are clearly known, we just have to depend on fate.

Health Problems Related to Down Syndrome

Although many people with Down syndrome have the common facial features and no other major birth defects, some might have to deal with one or more medical problems or major birth defects. Some of the common health problems listed in children with Down syndrome include:

> Hearing loss

> Ear infections

> Eye diseases

> Heart problems present at birth

> Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where a person's breathing temporarily stops while they are asleep

 

How to Treat Down Syndrome

Apparently, Down syndrome is a lifelong condition and cannot be treated. Individuals with Down syndrome are given extra care, love and attention. There are also special facilities or institutions where they are offered special services by trained healthcare providers. The special services focus on improving the child's physical and intellectual abilities which include speech, occupational and physical therapy.

Children and adults with Down syndrome are special people. Though they are constantly surrounded by limitations all round, they have special and unique abilities that can be noticed if you look at them keenly. They have the ability to feel other people's moods and are pretty sensitive to people's attitudes. They are able to detect when one is happy, sad or annoyed.

It may take them a while to learn new things but with time, care and love they are able to do the simplest chores around the house and so much more. Some with constant training have been able to achieve independent living though they are still kept under checkups depending on the system of the healthcare providers. They are amazing people to have around. Let's not neglect them. They are human beings like everyone else just more special and unique. Please do like this content, comment and share with your friends and family. Let's support people with Down syndrome.

Edited by Beldine.