When your child was diagnosed with downs syndrome, it might have been a traumatic experience for you. You can talk to your doctors and nurses and ask them about any questions you may have. Downs Syndrome is not an illness or a disease, it is a genetic condition. As it is not a disease there is no cure, but there are may ways that the effects of the condition can be managed. It is important to understand that your child can live a happy, healthy fulfilling life with downs syndrome. Many people with downs syndrome finish school and some even go to university and when they grow-up they can often live independently. With the right support and help they can be valued and productive members of their community. Treatment and management No cure has …show more content…
Down syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division when there is an extra chromosome 21 in the nucleus. The error occurs during the formation of the egg and sperm. This error is called a nondisjunction error. Usually when a cell divides into two, the chromosomes split and go into different cells. In the case of Downs Syndrome the cell goes into the same cell. So there are extra copies of chromosome 21. It is not know why this happens and it may come from the mother or the father. In 90% of cases the extra chromosome comes from the mother while in 4% of the cases the chromosomes come from the father. In the rest of the cases of Down Syndrome the non-disjunction error occurs after fertilization. Downs can also be inherited from the mother or father and not be a non-disjunction error. However that is very …show more content…
Signs and Symptoms Physical Symptoms People with Downs Syndrome have some common physical characteristics which include -less muscle tone -shorter stature -flatter facial profile -small ears face and mouth Due to their short stature and body composition people with D.S have a higher risk of obesity. They may also learn to sit, stand and walk later than normal people because they have decreased muscle tone. Intellectual and Developmental Symptoms Most people with D. S have mild to moderate intellectual disability. It is very rare to have a severe intellectual disability. They usually have short attention span, and also have poor judgement. Their behavior may be impulsive and they are also slow in learning. Their language and speech skills developments are delayed and they usually take longer time to develop communication skills. Effect on daily living The life expectancy of people with DS are usually low (60 yrs.). People with Downs Syndrome are at an increased risk of -Congenital Heart
Down syndrome is a disorder that comes with some defects, such as in the face, heart, sight, and hearing, and other health related problems. It also is the most common genetic defect, affecting many babies. Down syndrome is caused when the chromosomes are being divided during meiosis the cell keeps both copies of chromosome #21, which means the person with Down syndrome has an extra copy in every cell in their body. This is a sad genetic disorder that can change a person's life. Even though it is a devastating gene mutation, the people with Down syndrome are some of the most loving of all people.
“About 13 of every 10,000 babies born in the United States each year is born with Down syndrome. It affects an equal number of male and female babies” (Johnson P. A. 2014). Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that found across the world, however it is more prevalent in the United States. The cause of the disorder roots to the paring of the human chromosomes. A normal human receives 23 pairs of chromosomes, each pair coming from mother and father. In Down syndrome most people affected have an abnormal cell division of the chromosome. Both parents are carriers of the There are three types of variations that includes trisomy 21, mosaic, and translocation.
There is no actual behavior or environmental factor that could cause Down syndrome. Down syndrome is mainly caused by three different disorders. Trisomy 21, Mosaic Down Syndrome, or Translocation Down Syndrome, are three different types of causes. “Trisomy 21. About 95 percent of the time, Down syndrome is caused by trisomy 21 — the child has three copies of chromosome 21 (instead of the usual two copies) in all cells. This is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.” Trisomy is the most common cause for the Down syndrome disorder. The Mosaic Down syndrome is a one of the rare causes that the disorder has. This happens when both normal and abnormal are caused by cell division after fertilization. Translocation Down Syndrome occurs when a part of the chromosome 21 attaches itself to another chromosomes and then it has two unusual copies of the chromosome. Children who have the disorder are different individuals and have different facial appearance. “Infants with Down syndrome may be average size, but typically they grow slowly and remain shorter than other children the same age. In general, developmental milestones, such as sitting and crawling, occur at about twice the age of children without impairment.” Knowing about all the causes or symptoms in Down syndrome can help to try to figure out a way to help the
Down Syndrome is a condition that cannot be physically passed on from one person to the next. It is a genetic disorder that is inherited through our parents when something goes wrong during pregnancy. As a result, they have a combination of features typical of Down Syndrome, including some degree of cognitive disability, as well as other developmental delays. One thing we should always keep in mind is that they are children and having Down Syndrome comes second.
Down's syndrome is not a disease and therefore people with Down syndrome do not suffer nor are they victims of their condition.Down Syndrome is a natural disorder coming from a chromosome defect. It is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. Which causes mental impairment and physical deformity.For example short stature , broad facial profile and weak muscle tone.It occurs in approximately one in every 800 live births.It is the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorder. Down syndrome is not related to race, nationality, religion or socioeconomic status.(medline plus)
To all parents, a newborn child is a small miracle, perfect and beautiful in every way. However, in many situations the parents of these miracles learn that their children are “not normal.” Every year 6,000 parents across the country are informed that their child has a genetic disorder called Down Syndrome (“National Down Syndrome Society,” n.d.). Within a matter of minutes parents learn that children with Down Syndrome can also have a variety of other conditions and disorders, will not develop in the same way that other children do, and may even have a shorter life span. However, children with Down Syndrome are happy-go-lucky children with a kind disposition and a wonderful personality. Also known as Trisomy 21, Down Syndrome does not mean the end of a child’s life; it simply means that a child with Down Syndrome will lead a life that is different than that of his or her peers. With love and support from parents, educators, and medical professions these children can become some of the most wonderful people that one will ever meet. Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder that has its own symptoms, occurs during the process of mitosis, and is often connected with other medical conditions; however, with the help of new technology and medical professionals Down syndrome is recognized earlier and those with the condition can lead longer, healthier lives.
All three types of Down syndrome have an extra chromosome or part of chromosome 21 in one or all the cells. The extra chromosome changes the way an embryo develops and changes the physical and mental characteristics of the child. It is unknown what exactly causes nondisjunction. Although it is unknown, research has shown that the chances of having a child with Down syndrome go up as the woman’s age goes up. Even though the chances goes up the older the woman is, 80% of Down syndrome cases occur in woman under the age of 35. Although age can cause nondisjunction, there is nothing that proves that age is linked to translocation. This is due to more women having children at a younger age. Nothing as of today has been proven that any activities of the parents during or before pregnancy has affected the chance of the child developing Down syndrome. Also, there is no proof that the environment of the child causes Down syndrome. Most cases of Down syndrome have not been inherited from the parents, but 5% of the cases are due to the father’s
Down syndrome is caused by a problem with a baby’s chromosome. Chromosomes are cell structures made up genetic DNA (“Chromosomes”). Most people with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes. This changes the way the brain
Down syndrome, a genetic disorder, is the most common cause for intellectual disabilities, occurring at an average of one out of every 700 births (CDS, 2006). This disorder is caused by the extra chromosome 21 (also known as Trisomy 21). According to Hassold and Sherman (2002), the probability of giving birth to a child with DS is not linked to any race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or geographic location. Maternal age seems to be the only etiological factor that may cause DS.
Because Down syndrome is not a condition that can be cured, management with quality of life is the best thing for the individual. A combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle interventions will be the best option for the individual with Down syndrome (Gene Facts, n.d.). “Early intervention and many other therapeutic services are offered to people with Down syndrome” (National Down Syndrome Society, n.d.). Early intervention is a type of therapy that is given for children under the age of three years old. “The most common early intervention services for babies with Down syndrome are physical therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy” (National Down Syndrome Society, n.d.). As previously stated earlier, developmental milestones are delayed so working on those milestones as soon as possible will help the individual be successful later on in life.
The cause of this disorder is because of an extra chromosome in the body. About 90% of Down Syndrome cases are caused by this extra chromosome, chromosome 21 (this is why it is also called Trisomy 21). An extra chromosome originates in either the sperm or the egg. When the egg and the sperm unite to form the fertilized egg, two instead of three chromosomes in chromosome 21 are present. As the cells divide the extra chromosome is repeated in every cell.
Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21, which changes how the brain and body develops. The additional genetic material alter the course of the child’s life. What I mean by that is it totally changes the way that they function. Some of the disabilities of Down syndrome include: physical learning problems, speech is harder to understand, or speech delay. Development for a child with Down syndrome involves delayed development, learning disability, or a short stature. People with Down syndrome have different characteristics than others, some of them include: flattened face, almond shaped eyes that slant up, small mouth, misplaced tongue (may stick out of mouth), tiny white spots on the Iris, short neck, small hands and feet, small ears that may fold over at the top, low
Down syndrome is a common birth defect that is genetic. It is a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division that results in an extra 21st chromosome. Most children born with Down syndrome have some level of mental retardation.
Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21 is an extra copy of chromosomes 21; healthy babies have two copies, while down syndrome babies have three copies. Blood tests that pregnant women get have sparked a debate about aborting unborn babies with down syndrome because the parents “can’t handle it” or “dont know how to care for a baby with a disability.”
The most common type of Down syndrome is Trisomy 21. “Trisomy 21 is an extra chromosome 21 originates in the development of either the sperm or egg.” (4) More than 90 percent of all cases of Down syndrome are Trisomy 21. Another type of Down syndrome is Mosaic Trisomy 21, which is a rare form of Down syndrome and occurs in less than 2 percent of cases. While similar to simple trisomy 21, the difference is that the extra chromosome 21 is present in some, but not all cells, of the individual. “This type of Down syndrome is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization. The name comes from a random order of normal and abnormal cells (a mosaic). In cellular mosaicism, the mixture can be seen in different cells of the same type; while with tissue mosaicism, one set of cells may have normal chromosomes and another type may have trisomy 21.” (7) Another type is Translocation Trisomy 21. This type happens in 3 to 4 percent of all cases, and is when chromosome 21 becomes attached to another chromosome. “The carrier, the one having the translocated chromosome, will have 45 chromosomes instead of 46 but they will have all the genetic material of a person with 46 chromosomes. This is because the extra chromosome 21 material is located on a different chromosome (the translocated one). A carrier will have the extra material but will have only one chromosome 21. The carrier will not exhibit any of the symptoms of Down syndrome