| Every year, one child in every 800 to 1,000 births will | | | | the physical and/or developmentally delayed |
| be born with a condition known as Down syndrome. | | | | characteristics of those born with the other two |
| Down syndrome is a disorder in which the child has | | | | forms of Down syndrome. |
| extra genetic material. This extra genetic material | | | | Common Physical Traits |
| causes the baby to develop differently in the womb. | | | | Babies with Down syndrome are usually diagnosed at |
| This abnormal development occurs during the early | | | | birth or shortly thereafter. Because Down syndrome |
| stages of cell division, soon after conception. | | | | affects a child physically, there will be certain features |
| There is no known reason for Down syndrome or a | | | | that an alert doctor or nurse will pick up on. Most |
| cure for it. | | | | children with the syndrome will have some or all of |
| The disorder came by its name when an English | | | | these traits. |
| physician, John Langdon Down, published a description | | | | Among the most common physical characteristics are: |
| of the characteristics of a person with the condition | | | | - Low muscle tone |
| in 1886. Since Dr. Down was the first person to give | | | | - Small nose and flat nasal bridge |
| the syndrome a name, the disorder is known as | | | | - An upward slant to the eyes (almond shaped) |
| Down syndrome. | | | | - Small skin folds on the inner corner of the eyes |
| The Common Forms of Downs | | | | - Tongue large for size of child's mouth |
| There are three distinct forms of Down syndrome. | | | | - Small, sometimes abnormally shaped ears |
| The most common form is Trisomy 21. This is when | | | | - A single crease across the center of the palm |
| a child has an extra chromosome 21. | | | | - Fifth finger, the pinky, has only one crease instead |
| Instead of having 46 chromosomes in each cell (23 | | | | of two |
| from the father and 23 from the mother), he has 47. | | | | - Larger than normal space between the large and |
| Ninety-five percent of children born with Down | | | | second toe |
| syndrome have Trisomy 21. | | | | - Joints are hyper flexible, able to extend greater |
| Translocation is another form of Down syndrome | | | | than average |
| and makes up 3 to 4% of the population of people | | | | These physical traits are characteristic of a baby with |
| with the disorder. Translocation occurs when part of | | | | Down syndrome, but in order to determine if a child |
| chromosome 21 breaks off and attaches to another | | | | does indeed have the disorder, a chromosome |
| chromosome, changing the genetic makeup. In this | | | | analysis will need to be performed. |
| form of Down syndrome, each cell has the normal 46 | | | | This is done by taking blood from your baby and the |
| chromosomes, but there is extra genetic material | | | | analysis will be done in a laboratory. Your doctor will |
| from the broken off chromosome. | | | | notify you of the results. |
| The third and final form is called Mosaicism, and is the | | | | By Jane Orville |
| rarest form of Down syndrome, occurring in only 2% | | | | Jane Orville is the mother of a 17 year old Daughter |
| of all cases. Mosaicism happens when some of the | | | | with Down Syndrome and has spent years |
| cells in the forming embryo have 46 chromosomes, | | | | researching and compiling all the wisdom she has |
| and some have 47. Thus, the alternating pattern | | | | gained into a simple guide to assist parents deal with |
| gives it the name Mosaicism. | | | | the concerns of raising a child with Down Syndrome. |
| People with Mosaicism may not be as affected with | | | | |