What causes Down syndrome?

The cause of Down syndrome is something that many families of children with Down syndrome do not understand. Down syndrome makes the families of patients heartbroken and helpless. When facing children with Down syndrome, they neither know the cause nor how to deal with it. So what exactly causes Down syndrome? Below is an introduction to the causes of Down syndrome and its related prevention measures and treatments. Patients and their families who are troubled by this problem can come in and take a look.

Cause: Down syndrome is also known as Mongol syndrome because it was first described by British doctor Dr. JL Down and the patient's appearance resembles the Orientals in the minds of Westerners, hence the name. Down syndrome is caused by a congenital chromosomal abnormality. In most patients, an error occurs during genetic division of the 21st pair of chromosomes, resulting in the cell nucleus containing an extra chromosome; a small number of patients are caused by translocation.

Symptoms: Children with Down syndrome have many obvious symptoms in appearance and constitution. 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.

Treatment: Since there is still no drug that can improve the intelligence of the mentally retarded, the treatment of Down syndrome mainly relies on guidance. However, diseases that often accompany this condition include respiratory infections and gastrointestinal obstruction. Congenital heart disease and hypothyroidism can be cured or controlled.

Prevention: The average incidence of Down syndrome is 1/600, and the incidence in babies born to older mothers is more than 5 times higher. Male patients are mostly infertile, but female patients have as high a chance of passing the disease on to the next generation as high as 1/2. In addition, 5% of patients are of the translocation type, which is highly hereditary and has nothing to do with the mother's age. There may also be no family history. Therefore, patients must undergo chromosome diagnosis and screening for translocation. In the early stages of pregnancy, a facial examination of the fetal chorionic villi or amniotic fluid cells, assisted by an ultrasound scanner to look at the fetal head, hands and feet, can confirm whether the fetus has Down syndrome, and the parents can then decide whether an abortion is needed.

Through the article's introduction to the causes and prevention and treatment measures of Down syndrome, I believe patients and friends have learned more about this disease. Knowing more about Down syndrome, knowing its causes, and taking relevant preventive measures can not only reduce the incidence of this disease and live a healthy and happy life, but also reduce worries and fears. Friends may wish to learn more about this aspect.