Global Health Update: What you have to know about Down Syndrome (DS)

Down syndrome (DS or DNS), also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. In each cell there are 46 chromosomes.
The DNA in our chromosomes determines how we develop. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes in their cells instead of 46. They have an extra chromosome 21, which is why Down syndrome is also sometimes known as trisomy 21. The physical features and medical problems associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids with DS need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives.
The parents of the affected individual are typically genetically
normal. The extra chromosome occurs by random chance. There is no known behavior or environmental factor that changes the risk. Down syndrome can be identified during pregnancy by prenatal screening followed by diagnostic testing, or after birth by direct observation and genetic testing. Since the introduction of screening, pregnancies with the diagnosis are often terminated.

Causes
Normally, at the time of conception a baby inherits genetic information from its parents in the form of 46 chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. In most cases of Down syndrome, a child gets an extra chromosome 21 — which makes it 47 instead of 46. The cause is due to extra genetic material which result in the physical features and developmental delays associated with DS. Although we know how Down syndrome occurs, we do not yet know why it happens. Down syndrome occurs at conception, across all ethnic and social groups and to parents of all ages. It is nobody's fault. There is no cure and it does not go away.
Scientists do know that women age 35 and older have a significantly higher risk of having a child with the condition. At age 30, for example, a woman has about a 1 in 1,000 chance of conceiving a child with DS. Those odds increase to about 1 in 400 by age 35. By 40 the risk rises to about 1 in 100. Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosome abnormalities in humans.
Those with Down syndrome nearly always have physical and intellectual disabilities. As adults, their mental abilities are typically similar to those of an 8- or 9-year-old. They also typically have poor immune function and generally reach developmental milestones at a later age. They have an increased risk of a number of other health problems, including congenital heart disease, epilepsy, leukemia, thyroid diseases, and mental disorders, among others. Down syndrome is not a new condition.

People with Down syndrome have:
*.some characteristic physical features
*.some health and development challenges
*.some level of intellectual disability.

Because no two people are alike, each of these things will vary from one person to another.
A test for Down syndrome can be carried out before a baby is born. Down syndrome is usually recognised at birth and is confirmed by a blood test. When a baby is born, there is no way to tell what level of intellectual disability the child may have. We can't also predict the way in which this may affect a person's life. However, we do know that having Down syndrome will not be the most important influence on how that person develops and lives their life.

Treatments

This Syndrome can neither be treated nor removed.