Down Syndrome (唐氏綜合症)
Introduction
Down Syndrome (唐氏綜合症) is a well-known
chromosomal abnormality (染色體異常). About 95% of
cases occurs when an extra chromosome is added in the 21st
position, known as *Trisomy 21*
High
Risk Population
The risk of occurring is correlate to the maternal age (妊娠年齡) of the baby's mother.
At age of
30, the risk is 1:800 ; However, the risk rises to 1:50 at the
age of 44.
Characteristics
Body
features:
Children
with Down Syndrome are often have small head, short neck,
especially flatter at the back. Their limbs are relatively short.
Moreover, their fingers were short and poorly coordinated.
Muscles
Tones:
They always
have poor muscle tones. Sometimes, they are called as *floppy
babies*. They starts walking late than normal ones.
Facial
features:
Their eyes
are upward slanted with marked epoicanthic folds. Most of them
have white flecks on the iris-Brushfield*s spots. Usually,
abnormality liked, cataracts(白內瘴), squint (斜視) and nystagmus (眼球震顫) are common to Down Syndrome
children.
Hearing:
They have
small ears and easily get hearing impairment.
Personality:
Children
with Down Syndrome are affectionate, responsive and happy
children. They are easy to manage.
Mental
Retardation:
Most of
those children suffers from mental
retardation (弱智) for various
degrees. However, although they are mentally deficient in many
aspects, most of them function much better in certain area, for
example, music.
Effects
on Daily life
Most of the Down Syndrome children are suffering from mental
retardation which means they will not learn language and adaptive
skills well as normal. Their hearing impairment, eye defects and
physical abnormalities also forbid them to explore outside
environment. Thus, special and additional care have to be given
to those child.
Reference :
Gilbert, P. (1996) The A-Z Reference
Book of Syndromes & Inherited Disorders. San Diego: Singular
Selikowitz,
M. (1997) Down Syndrome: the facts. New York: Oxford University
Press
Note : All material in this page is just for reference only. The web-master will not take any responsibility about it.
This is the sub-page of "REFRESH!". Please leave your feedback at the guest book in the main page. Thank You.
Please tell
others about "REFRESH!"
when you think it is good.