Treatment for Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a condition caused by an extra genetic material, which results in delayed development of a child. Here is useful information about treatment for Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal disorders. It results in impaired physical and cognitive abilities. It causes malformation and mental retardation in children. This syndrome was described by the British doctor, John Langdon Down in 1866 and hence, it is named as Down syndrome.

The presence of an extra 21st chromosome is the main cause of Down syndrome. Children having this disorder have a total of 47 chromosomes, instead of 46. Maternal age is also an important factor in the development of this syndrome. The possibility of having a child with Down syndrome is 1 in 1000 for women below the age of 30. It is 1 in 400 for women between 30-34 years and 1 in 60 for women between 35-42 years.

Symptoms of Down syndrome may be mild or severe and vary from person to person. Some of the common physical signs include excessive skin at the nape of the neck, small ears, flattened nose, decreased muscle tone at birth, separated sutures, upward slanting eyes, wide, short hands with short fingers and white spots on the colored part of eyes. Physical development of a child with this syndrome, is generally slower than normal. Most children with Down syndrome can’t reach average adult height. These children may have some other health problems such as hearing loss, heart disease, dementia and the problems associated with intestine, eyes, skeleton and thyroid disease.

Treatment for Down Syndrome

What is a treatment for Down syndrome? Since this disorder is related to chromosomes, there is no complete cure. The treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms of the syndrome and involves regular checkups and screening, surgery, medications as well as counseling and support.

People with with this syndrome are at higher risk of certain medical problems such as congenital heart disease, muscle, bone or nerve problems, eye and hearing problems, thyroid problems, leukemia and other cancers. Hence, regular checkups and screening is very important. This helps note changes in their health and to seek appropriate medical treatment for them. Some intervention programs such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and behavioral training are quite useful.

The recurrent infections can be treated by appropriate medications. Certain medical conditions related to this syndrome need surgery. Children with congenital heart disease or cataract have to undergo a surgical treatment. The treatment of Down syndrome changes according to the associated medical conditions.

Counseling and support is a very important factor of treatment. Counseling at different stages of development is beneficial for parents and children with this syndrome. It is very important to learn as much as possible about Down syndrome and possible complications. Children with this syndrome have certain learning disabilities. Therefore, they need an additional support in the years of education. They need special assistance in school. These children should be treated with great care and concern. Parental support and educational aid can be helpful for them to lead normal lives. These children should be encouraged to pursue the acquisition of normal psychological and physical health. Read information on genetic diseases.