Down's Disease: Causes and Symptoms

Down's disease is the name of an ailment that everyone knows, but few really know what its nature is and what people suffer from it. For the first time the symptoms of the disease were described in 1866 by the English scientist John Lengdon Down. Strictly speaking, the syndrome was named in his honor, although the researcher himself called the defect he revealed as "Mongolism". Down perceived the deviation as a form of mental disorder. Later studies in this field revealed not only the external similarities and difficulties of development, but also the presence of a defective gene in DNA. Thus, from the category of mental abnormalities, Down syndrome has passed into the pathology section.

Down's disease, the causes of

All women, without exception, regardless of age, social class and race, can give birth to a child with this syndrome. A genetic defect arises as a result of discrepancy of chromosomes in the process of gamete formation, as a result of which an extra, third chromosome appears in the 21st pair. A small percentage of those suffering from this deviation, instead of an entire superfluous chromosome, can only have its individual fragments.

According to WHO statistics, 800 children born worldwide have one with Down's syndrome. The older a woman and a man, the greater their risk of giving birth to an inferior child. Also the age of the grandmother on the maternal line exerts its influence. The later she gave birth to her daughter, the more chances to conceive a child with this syndrome.

Thanks to the possibilities of medicine, it is now possible to identify developmental problems in the early stages of pregnancy. According to statistics, 9 out of 10 women agree to abortion if fetal development abnormalities are detected. Even more sad statistics on children born. In Russia, these newborns are refused in 80% of cases directly in the hospital. In the Scandinavian countries, there is no official denial of such children. Citizens of the US adopt alien abandoned children, raising them and giving them a chance for a normal future.

Down's disease, symptoms

External anomalies are expressed in the so-called flat face and occiput, the cranium is abnormally shortened and as if flattened, the presence of an epicanthus (skin fold near the eyes), short extremities, including the neck. Down's disease also affects the weakness of the muscles of the mouth, so it is in the open state. Very often the sky itself is changed, dental anomalies occur. In 66% of cases, patients in the eighth year of life are found cataract.

Immunity of such people is weakened, they are prone to frequent diseases, which are very difficult. Because of this in the past, most patients died in infancy. Today, Down's disease is taken under control, people are able to live to 55 years or more.

The delay in development is different for everyone born with this syndrome, some start walking at the age of two, others - much later. With due medical care, any child born is able to grow into a full member of society. If he is lucky with his parents, who not only will not abandon him, but also make every effort to bring him up, the baby born with an extra chromosome will not only be a happy person, a socially active individual, but also be able to create his own family.