Ever heard of Mar Galceran, a politician from Spain, 'Never Have I Ever' series fame actor Lily D Moore and Kami, who won three Cannes Lion Awards in 2023? All of them are inspirational figures who went on to be successful in their respective fields, despite having the medical condition called Down Syndrome. Named after British physician John Langdon Down, who first described it in 1866, Down Syndrome is not a disease.
However, it is an issue wherein a marked change in physical appearance and internal organs happens due to the presence of an extra chromosome. A normal person has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) but a person with Down syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome 21 instead of the usual pair. As per the studies, one in 750 children has Down syndrome. On World Down Syndrome Day, let's understand how to detect it in early childhood:
Causes
No one knows for sure the causes of Down Syndrome. It is found that the chances of a baby having Down Syndrome are higher if the mother is more than 35 years old. In rare cases, defective chromosomes of either of the parents can also cause Down Syndrome.
Prenatal screening for Down Syndrome
Close to 95% of Down Syndrome cases can be detected during pregnancy and the diagnosis tools include blood tests and ultrasound scans. If the blood test and scan raise doubts, the Aminiocentesis test, whereby the amniotic fluid around the baby in the womb is tested, would confirm whether the baby has Down Syndrome or not.
Diagnosis after birth
The infant’s physical appearance gives a clue to the doctors. A genetic test is conducted to confirm Down Syndrome and if the test is positive, the doctors would conduct in-depth tests to find the condition of the child’s internal organs.
What should be kept in mind
Children with Down Syndrome have a much slower mental development compared to normal kids. Nearly 50% of children with Down Syndrome have heart-related problems and majority of them have a deficiency of thyroid hormones. Around 5% of children would have intestine-related issues too. Moreover, the bones around the neck would be brittle and the muscles weak. The chances of having blood pressure and Alzheimer’s are also high.
Surgery would be needed immediately after birth to correct the congenital blockage in the intestine. Depending upon the gravity of the heart issues, medicines or surgery would be advised by the doctors. The functioning of the thyroid gland should be monitored regularly and medicines are prescribed if there are abnormal changes in thyroid levels. Development therapy and physiotherapy at regular intervals can help children with Down Syndrome to improve their intellectual ability and muscle strength.
Commitment of society
Children with Down Syndrome have the same rights as any other kids to grow happily in a safe and secure environment. Though they might lack physical development, they are on a par with anyone else when it comes to societal development. And that’s the reason why these children interact with others with great love and affection. Some would love music and other art forms.
Everyone should ensure that children with Down Syndrome lead a normal life like any other child. But one should be aware of the health issues staring at these children and the ways and means to overcome them. For example: the functioning of the thyroid gland, echo tests and physiotherapy, among others. These children can be taught according to their mental development. Instead of going after educational qualifications, the parents should have the foresight to make them self-sufficient.
The Down Syndrome support groups would help to keep at bay the concerns of the parents and their children that they would be ostracized due to this health condition. Children with Down Syndrome deserve empathy and should be allowed to be part and parcel of society like others.
