Learn Down syndrome and the truth you should know

Many studies show that, although developing more slowly, people with Down syndrome can still develop as normal people.

First described in 1866 by a British doctor - John Langdon Haydon Down - Down syndrome (Down's syndrome) is a collection of congenital abnormalities, notably the infected person who owns the mold. typical face, always in mental state and having some abnormalities in the cardiovascular system, digestion . easily lead to death in the first 5 years.

The cause of Down syndrome

We know that, normally, humans have 46 chromosomes, arranged in pairs. Half inherited from the father and the other half from the mother. Chromosomes carry genes that regulate the formation and development of the body.

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Emmy baby image in Denmark has Down syndrome.

But children with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes, which means an extra chromosome number 21 . And it is this chromosome 21 that is the culprit.

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Chromosome image (chromosome) number 21.

This extra chromosome causes each gene to produce more protein than usual, leading to weakness in both cognitive ability and physical development.

The reason for this excess chromosome is that the process is not dissociated , that is, when a pair of chromosome 21 is not separated during egg formation (or sperm). When an egg with abnormal sperm merges to form an embryo, the embryo will have three chromosomes 21 instead of the usual two.

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Chromosome.

Another rare case is that chromosome 21 binds to another chromosome that creates an abnormal chromosome (called a transgene chromosome ) before forming sperm or eggs. This abnormal chromosomal egg or sperm when fertilized with a normal egg or sperm can also produce a child with Down syndrome.

According to experts, this non-segregation process is more common in older women , which may explain why mothers over 35 are at a higher risk of having a baby with Down syndrome.

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Women over 35 who give birth will have a higher risk of Down.

Simply put, if the mother is 30 years old, the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is 1/900, this rate in mothers aged 35 is 1/350, at the age of 40, it will be 1/100.

In addition, experts believe that if the family has grandparents, parents or relatives who have sickness, the risk of children getting down is very high.

Symptoms of people with Down syndrome

People with Down syndrome have many abnormal morphological and functional manifestations:

  1. The muscles are often soft and flabby .The first part is usually short and baby, the back is wide and flat;Short neck, round shoulders.The nose is small and flat, the tongue is too big for the mouth.The face is flat, looks silly, the ears are small.
  2. Slanted eyes, sometimes strabismus, skin folds covered in eyelids, eyes slightly swollen and red.In the black eye, there are many small white dots like sand grains and often disappear after 12 months of age.The mouth is late and always open, the mouth is high and the tongue is thick.The distance between the big toe and the second toe is too wide.
  3. Short limbs, short, big hands.The fingers are short, the pinky finger is often plump.Deep sticky palm on the side.Flat feet, bird toes, thumbs out;the distance between the big toe and the second toe is too wide.Loose elbows, groin, knee and ankle joints;Sometimes dislocated groin, patella.

In addition, people with Down syndrome are at high risk of certain diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease; having hearing and vision problems; a few have leukemia.

Although slow, people with Down syndrome can still develop as normal people

In general, children with Down syndrome often experience developmental problems - developing more slowly than normal children. However, if children participate in the early intervention program, they still have many opportunities to develop.

Be aware that people with Down syndrome, despite their mental retardation, can still go to school, can learn to read, write, do math .

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Children with Down syndrome can still go to school, do math . normally.

Not only that, they can also do simple jobs and live a relatively independent life if given the right conditions.

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Young model Madeline Stuar.

The case of female models Madeline Stuart is a typical example. She has sent people the message, Downs can still be as beautiful and charming as any woman in the world if they have dreams and energy.

And to demonstrate this, she was confident striding in the show of FTL Moda brand under the framework of New York Fashion Week last September.

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Amateur model Jamie Brewer.

Earlier, amateur model Jamie Brewer became the focus of the New York Fashion Week 2015 Fall-Winter event in Carrie Hammer outfit in February 2015.