Down Syndrome

Knowing Down’s syndrome

downsyndrome — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:33:56 +0000

The most common cause of mild to a moderate cognitive and development disability is the Down’s syndrome. This is related to some medical problems in any races and economic group. The chromosomal disorder is due to an error of cell division during conception wherein there is an extra chromosome that was inherited by the fetus. Often times, the disorder happens because of a random formation of cells, which is the sperm and ovum. We must be aware that this syndrome is not related to the behavioral and sexual activity of the parents.
A child who is born with trisomy 21 usually has a different features such as flat face, short neck, low and small ears, and white spot on the iris. Though, not all children with trisomy 21 will have similar features. When a parent has a newborn that has this disorder, it is normal that the parents will feel disappointed and sad. Caring for a child who has this disorder is not easy because you need to spend all your time and energy.
Normally, during delivery, a child who has trisomy 21 will have a normal weight and size, but as days pass but the newborn grows slower that a normal child. A newborn that had this Down’s syndrome will have a variety of congenital defects, but the majority has a heart defect and digestive anomalies. For an adult with trisomy 21, he or she may have a higher risk of having an Alzheimer’s disease because the disorder affects the brain that causes gradual memory loss and function. However, this disease only happens in older people.
Majority of the cases had proven that trisomy 21 is not inherited. The problem occurs in the egg and sperm cells. Children usually have mental retardation that is why cognitive thinking is really affected. There are many special education institutions or rehabilitation centers that help the children who have trisomy 21. We must keep in mind that they must also be treated like normal children. Parents support and acceptance is the most important thing to be considered so that the child and the parents will be able to cope well the situation.
No one ever knows how and why trisomy 21 occurs. However, there are some ways that can be done to treat and reduce the occurrence of this syndrome. It is not easy to have a child who has the disorder because as a parent you will think and feel that you did something wrong that is why your child is different from other normal children. They also have the right to be loved by their relatives, especially their parents. Learning is very difficult for children who have Down’s syndrome but still, this must not considered to be a barrier for them to learn.

Down Syndrome Help Centers for Special Children

downsyndrome — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:31:39 +0000

Down syndrome help centers are established all around the globe and it is being facilitated with people that specializes in this kind of illness. Facilitators have studied the different kind of techniques that will most likely help children with Down Syndrome. Help centers are the best place for this kind of children, for they are taken care in this facility with the professionals and they are taught on how to cope slowly on the different stress.

Down syndrome is a very common and easily identified chromosomal condition together with mental and intellectually retardation. It is mainly caused by chromosomal imbalance. Cells accidentally develop an additional chromosome where in the body supposedly should have a normal 46 number of chromosome.However, children with this kind of illness develop 47 chromosome. Hence, parent will seek for down syndrome help.

The extra chromosome changes the development of the child body structure as well as the appearance of the child. In addition, the capacity of the child’s brain to register learning and to control memory is also affected. Most diagnosis is made before the mother gives birth to the child to determine whether or not it is going to have this illness.

There are over 4,000 children that are born in the United States that are born and diagnosed with Down syndrome every year. Anyone can have a child with Down syndrome. Parents has the capability of changing the chromosome numbers of their child.Other people claims that it is due to genetics that is why it is passed to you to their children. If you have a brother or a sister who have a Down syndrome illness, there is a greater possibility that you can have a child that can have a Down syndrome as well.

The incidence of Down syndrome is higher on parents with the age over 35,however, it is proven that any syndrome doesn’t occur more than once in one family. There are more than 50 clinical signs of this illness and it is not common that you will find all or most of the symptoms in just one child. The common syndromes that are found in this illness are poor muscle tone or hypotonic, slanting of the eyes with the presence of skin folds at the inner corners or also known as epicanthal folds. They can be seen with short broad hands with a single crease across the palm on one or both hands. Some common traits that can be found in Down syndrome are hyper flexibility of the joints, presence of broad and short toes, flat nose bridge, short low set ears, and many others. Down syndrome help centers are the best place for children suffering from this illness.

Some Important Information on Down Syndrome

downsyndrome — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:29:23 +0000

The research about down syndrome was done by John Langdon Down and hence the name. He conducted his research in the year 1866 and discovered that this syndrome is caused by the presence of a single extra chromosome in the human body. It is also known as trisomy 21. This extra chromosome disrupts the entire structure of the mental and physical organs of the body.

The Down syndrome has been prominent from generations together and it was the most gruesome time where such affected people were ‘institutionalized’ for their entire life. The babies born with this syndrome were separated from the parents and were taken into government custody where the state acted as the guardian. It was a rule imposed as there was no cure to be found regarding this syndrome. Pleas and requests to get back the children and babies were rejected mercilessly. This practice was continued until a few years back.

These children were different in physical appearance. They had distinct physical inheritance like:

· Slanted eyes to the upward direction

· Rounded face

· Small and flattened noses

· Legs and arms which are comparatively shorter

· Less muscle co-ordination and toning

· Small mouth along with the tongue slightly sticking out

These physical features may however vary in the degree of intensity. With the advancement of science and technology, research has been conducted for the better understanding of this Down syndrome. The life of a person suffering from the Down syndrome is not easy. The family members also go through a lot of hardships in raising the child and giving it a normal growth environment. The size of the person is sometimes very short which makes them look dwarfish. There were social inhibitions about such people. There was a wrong conception that the child inherited these symptoms and features due to the mother giving birth at the later stages of her child-bearing time. However, research has proved this conception wrong but it is considered to be one of the constituting factors.

The care and medical follow ups may improve the state of development. There are also exclusive care centers, schools and other facilities for these disabled children. The Down syndrome has no medicines invented with science but Ayurvedic treatments and medicines can be used. Though these herbs can not completely cure the patient, they have the ability to decrease the intensity of the symptoms.

For this purpose, the awareness of this chromosomal disorder is spread among the masses and couples are asked to opt for gene counseling sessions before planning to have a baby. Pregnant ladies are asked to undergo scanning to check if the baby is in possession of the Down syndrome. If positive results are found, then the baby can be aborted if the parents wish to do so.