Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Down Syndrome
Description
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. The genes of most
people are located on 23 pairs of chromosomes (a total of 46
chromosomes) in nearly every cell of their body. Children
with Down syndrome have extra genetic material from one of
the chromosomes, called chromosome 21. Most children with
this syndrome have a third copy of this chromosome, so that
they have a total of 47 chromosomes. Down syndrome results
from this extra genetic material. Scientists are still
learning about what causes this extra genetic material and
exactly how it causes the problems of Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is the most common disorder of human
chromosomes. It is usually diagnosed shortly after birth
during a baby's first physical exam.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually based on physical characteristics
of the syndrome. Eyes often have a slant to the openings
and extra skin at the middle corner. The mouth tends to
stay open with the tongue sticking out. Muscle tone is
usually low, making the arms and legs more relaxed.
Growth and Development
Growth and development is unique to every child. Children
learn to walk, run, use their hands and eyes, understand
language, speak, think, and solve problems at different
rates. Children with Down syndrome, like all children, do
all of these things too. However, children with Down
syndrome generally grow in height and weight more slowly,
learn more slowly, and have more trouble with complex
reasoning and judgment than other children.
Children with Down syndrome generally should not be compared
in their development with other children. Growth and
developmental milestones unique to children with Down
syndrome have been developed and are available.
As a child with Down syndrome reaches adolescence, he or she
will become more aware of his or her limitations; as a
result, emotional problems sometimes occur at this age.
Doctors believe that a child's emotional health is best
supported by staying involved in mainstream home, school,
and community activities as fully as possible.
Health Care for a Child with Down Syndrome
Children with Down syndrome can have a variety of health
problems. Some children have heart problem at birth while
others with Down syndrome have heart problems later in life.
As the child grows older, he may have vision, hearing, bone,
joint, hormone, or dental problems. Because of these
problems, a child with Down syndrome needs more medical
and dental care and educational help to reach his or her
full potential.
- Feeding
Breast-feeding a baby with Down syndrome is usually
successful and improves the infant's ability to fight
infection.
Children with Down syndrome tend to have a small mouth
and smooth, flat tongue. This may cause spilling of
liquids out of the side of the mouth. This problem
usually goes away during infancy as tongue control
improves.
Make sure your infant is fully awake before feeding.
Place pillows underneath the baby during the feeding.
Using a hand to support your child's chin and throat can
sometimes help during feeding. Talk to your doctor if
you have additional questions.
- Heart evaluation
Because many children with Down syndrome are born with
heart defects, your child should be checked by a
pediatric cardiologist soon after birth. A test
called an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to
create a picture of the heart, is recommended.
- Thyroid screening
Babies in nearly all states are tested in the hospital
shortly after birth for low thyroid hormone levels.
This is usually one of several tests known as the
"newborn screen." Make sure your doctor knows the
results of this test because there is an increased
likelihood of low thyroid hormone levels in children
with Down syndrome.
Thyroid screening tests should be repeated for children
with Down syndrome at 6 months, 12 months, and then each
year thereafter.
- Hearing
Many children with Down syndrome have difficulties with
hearing. Often this is due to frequent ear infections
or fluid in the middle ear. There may be other reasons
for poor hearing. Hearing problems may come and go or
be always present. Any cause of hearing loss should be
treated by your doctor to maintain good hearing and
allow better language development.
- Vision
Eye problems occur in individuals with Down syndrome
slightly more often than in the general population.
Seven of every 10 children with Down syndrome will need
glasses. Improper alignment of the line of sight
also occurs more frequently and needs to be treated.
Most children with Down syndrome need to see an eye
doctor at about one year of age.
- Dental and oral concerns
The teeth of a child with Down syndrome usually come in
later than the teeth of most children. The first tooth
usually appears between 12 and 48 months. Fifty percent
of children with Down syndrome are missing one tooth or
more.
Frequently, their teeth will not be in the best position
for chewing. For example, a child may have an overbite
(the upper teeth coming out forward) or a crossbite (the
lower teeth set to one side of the upper teeth).
For an unknown reason, cavities are less frequent.
However, careful brushing and flossing is needed to
prevent cavities and gum disease. Gum disease is a
problem which is more frequent in children with Down
syndrome.
Children with congenital heart defects who are going to
have dental procedures performed often need antibiotic
medicine before the procedure.
- Breathing and sleep apnea concerns
Air passages in the nose, mouth, and chest are smaller
than in other children. As a result of the narrowing, a
number of problems can occur. Mouth breathing may
develop and this can lead to teeth problems. Snoring
may be a sign of a narrowed airway. Narrowing may
become so severe that the airway becomes blocked,
causing air flow to stop. This problem is known as
sleep apnea.
Check with your doctor if your child snores a lot,
especially if they have loud snoring, followed by
silence, a snort, partial awakening, and then snore
again.
- Cervical (neck) spine x-ray
Between the ages of 3 and 5 years, all children with
Down syndrome should have x-rays of the upper spine.
The x-rays are taken to look for too much movement of
the bones in the upper spine when the neck is held in
different positions. If a child has too much movement,
the problem is called "atlanto-axial instability."
Dislocation, or slippage, of the these bones in the
upper spine is not common but can result in serious
injury. Usually, before an injury, the child would have
several weeks of symptoms such as: neck pain, head
tilt, breathing changes, weakness, or changes in walking
ability. If your child has these symptoms, tell
your doctor so the spine can be checked. A careful
exam of the neck is also an important part of the
checkup your child should have before participating in
many sports.
- Unproved therapies
You will probably hear of many treatments for children
with Down syndrome. They may range from megavitamin
therapy to facial surgery. The good effects of many of
these treatments are unproven and some may be harmful.
Check with your child's doctor before trying any
treatment.
Early Intervention
Early intervention services are a variety of therapies that
parents and professionals do together to help a child reach
his or her greatest potential. The combination of these
therapies, along with improved medical care, parent
education, and increased social acceptance, are believed to
account for individuals with Down syndrome generally having
better skills and higher levels of functioning than in past
decades.
The following is a list of professionals who are involved
with early intervention services:
- Developmental pediatrician: evaluates and treats medical
factors affecting development.
- Infant educator: helps with thinking and problem solving
skills.
- Pediatric physical therapist: helps with body movement
skills.
- Pediatric occupational therapist: helps with feeding and
hand skills.
- Speech and language therapist: helps with communication
skills.
- Mental health professional: Provides counseling and
emotional support.
Summary
The health care needs of children with Down syndrome are
better understood than ever before. Scientists are
trying to improve their understanding of the genetic basis
of the syndrome. Much can be done to prevent and treat
medical problems associated with the syndrome.
Although children with Down syndrome may be slow in their
achievements and must overcome the misconceptions of others,
most lead productive, fulfilling lives. You can help your
child reach his or her potential by making sure your child
has regular checkups and receives preventive medical
treatment.
Additional information about Down syndrome is available from
a wide variety of books, on-line services, and parent and
professional organizations.
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