Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality syndrome in humans. Sometimes when babies' genetic material is being assembled, they either get too much or too little of one chromosome. Most children with Down syndrome have three freestanding copies of chromosome 21 while others have the third copy mixed in with the normal genetic material. Children with Down syndrome normally have a decreased intelligence, but increased unselfconscious, openness, and affection.

The risk of Down syndrome increases with the mother's age. Women under the age of 30 have a risk of 1 in 1500 births. Women above the age of 35 have a more increase risk of 1 in 200 to 270 births. Women who are over the age of 40 have an even higher risk of 1 in every 60 to 85 births.

People that have Down syndrome may have a decreased muscle tone at birth. They may also have separated sutures between the bones of the skull or and odd shaped head. They can appear to have upward slanting eyes, and a small mouth with a tongue that slightly sticks out. They have broad short hands with only a single crease on the palm. Most people that have Down syndrome have retarded growth and development, and delayed social and mental skills.

It is possible for prenatal testing procedures to check and see if a baby will have Down syndrome. There is a screen test to check estimates of a woman's risk of having a child with Down syndrome and a diagnostic test to determine if the fetus will have Down syndrome. Two blood tests are the triple screen and the alpha-fetoprotein, they are the most common prenatal screening tests and are often done in combination with a detailed ultrasound. These tests are usually offered to a pregnant woman