Is Down syndrome screening accurate?

In recent years, the accuracy of Down syndrome screening in my country has become increasingly higher, and all pregnant women have to go through this screening. If the Down syndrome screening fails, it will cause psychological trauma to pregnant women. However, pregnant women do not have to worry too much. Down syndrome screening also has a certain calculated risk value, so pregnant women should maintain an optimistic attitude to welcome the birth of their children. What will happen if you have Down syndrome? Let me introduce it to you.

Down syndrome conditions

Children with Down syndrome have many obvious symptoms in appearance and physique. Their intelligence is lower than that of normal children, usually with an IQ of only 40 to 60, but they have a gentle personality. Children with this disease have delayed development and low muscle tone, which makes them learn to sit, stand and walk later than normal children.

They also have very distinctive facial features that make them easy to identify. Children with this disease usually have eyes that are far apart, slanted upwards, a flat nose bridge, and small mouths, teeth and ears. Most patients have ape-shaped palm lines (commonly known as broken palms), special hoof-shaped fingers, and the distance between the first and second toes is particularly wide.

The pathogenesis of Down syndrome

Human cells should have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes), half of which come from the father and half from the mother. Normal people have 22 pairs of autosomes and another pair of sex chromosomes that determine sex. The cause of Down syndrome is an extra chromosome in the patient's 21st pair of chromosomes. Because there is an extra chromosome 21, it is called trisomy 21 syndrome.

The best time for Down syndrome screening

The best time for screening is between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy

Which pregnant women should undergo Down syndrome screening?

Every pregnant woman should be screened for Down syndrome. The occurrence of Down syndrome is random. Only about 1% of Down syndrome patients are related to genetic factors, and the causes of other diseases are unknown.

Pregnant women should remember to contact their prenatal check-up doctor to arrange a time for Down syndrome screening between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. Down syndrome screening cannot determine whether the fetus has Down syndrome, but it checks the probability of having Down syndrome, so mothers should not misunderstand the results of Down syndrome screening. Pregnant women do not need to fast for Down syndrome screening, just draw venous blood. At the same time, pregnant women should focus on taking care of the fetus and keep fewer animals.