My daughter Jessica, whom is 2 years old
right now, was born with Down Syndrome. She is a twin and
her brother does not have this disorder. This page is
dedicated to those parents that have children with
Downs Syndrome and have the same questions that I have
had in the past.
What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that occurs in 1.3 per 1000 births.
For some unexplained reason, an error in cell development results in 47
chromosomes rather than the usual 46. The extra gene material slightly
changes the orderly development of the body and brain.
What Causes Down Syndrome?
A baby is formed when the egg from the mother and the sperm from the
father come together. Normally, each egg and sperm cell contains 23
chromosomes. The union of these creates 23 pairs, or 46 total chromosomes.
This forms the hereditary information packet of every living cell. When
either an egg or sperm cell does not form properly, causing the cell to contribute
24 chromosomes instead of 23, and the extra chromosome is number 21,
Downs syndrome results. The features of Down Syndrome result from having this
extra chromosome 21 in each of the body's cells. This is called trisomy 21,
because of the presence of three number 21 chromosomes.
Occasionally, the extra chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome in
the egg or sperm; this may create translocation Down Syndrome. This condition
in either parent greatly increases the chances of having another child with Down syndrome.
Can Down Syndrome Be Cured?
There is no cure for Down Syndrome. Nor can it be prevented.
Scientists do not know why problems involving chromosome 21
occur. Nothing either parent did, or did not do, caused Down Syndrome.
However, there is now a vitamin treatment that is being used to help
some of the symptoms that Down Syndrome causes. This will be discussed
further into this page.
What Does a Child With Down Syndrome Look Like?
A child with Down Syndrome may have eyes that slant upward and small
ears that may fold over a little at the top. His/her mouth may be small,
making the tongue appear large. His/her nose also may be small, with a
flattened nasal bridge. Some babies with Downs syndrome have short necks
and small hands with short fingers.
The child or adult with Down Syndrome is often short and has unusual
looseness of the joints. Most children with Downs syndrome will have some,
but not all, of these features.
Please continue...
*some graphics by: Lucia Pape