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Down syndrome

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Trisomy 21

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment for Down syndrome. A child born with a gastrointestinal blockage may need major surgery immediately after birth. Certain heart defects may also require surgery.

Special education and training is offered in most communities for children with delays in mental development. Speech therapy may help improve language skills. Physical therapy may be needed to teach movement skills.

Persons with Down syndrome need to be closely screened for eye problems, hearing loss, thyroid disease, and other medical conditions associated with the syndrome.

Support Groups:

National Down Syndrome Society - www.ndss.org

National Down Syndrome Congress -- www.ndsccenter.org

Expectations (prognosis):

Persons with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before. Many live independent and productive lives, well into adulthood.

About half of children with Down syndrome are born with heart problems, including atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Heart problems may lead to early death.

Persons with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain types of leukemia, which can also cause early death.

The level of mental retardation varies from patient to patient, but is usually moderate. Adults with Down syndrome have an increased risk for dementia.

Complications:

• Airway blockage during sleep
• Compression injury of the spinal cord
• Eye problems
• Frequent ear infections and increased risk of other infections
• Hearing loss
• Heart problems
• Gastrointestinal blockage
• Weakness of the back bones at the top of the neck

Calling your health care provider:

A health care provider should be consulted to determine if the child needs special education and training. It is important for the child to have regular check ups with his or her doctor.

References:

Ferri FF. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2007: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. 9th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2007.

ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 77: screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Obstet Gynecol . 2007 Jan;109(1):217-27.

AAP Committee on Genetics. Health supervision for children with Down syndrome. Pediatrics . 2001 Feb;107(2):442-9.

• Review Date: 5/10/2007
• Reviewed By: Rachel A Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY, and Brian Kirmse, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Human Genetics, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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