Dareian+G.



**About:** Down Syndrome is a condition which is also known as Trisomy 21. DS occurs because of an extra copy of the Chromosome number 21. It slows the way a person develops, affecting about 1 in every 750 babies. Over 350,000 people in the U.S. are born with DS each year.

People with DS typically have more health problems that you and I may have. Some things that may be different are: -About 1/2 of DS babies born will have heart defects. -12% will have Intestinal Defects -60% have vision problems -75% experience hearing loss -They are more prone to infections such as: Ear infections, colds, and Pneumonia. -More likely to get Leukemia -Seizures -Memory loss -And even Alzheimer's at an early age. 25% have Alzheimer's at the age of only 35 years old.
 * Symptoms:**

The reason most of the symptoms occur is because the childs ability to learn and grow is slowed down. For example, their eye sight may not develop when it is supposed to, therefore leaving them with lesser vision than a person who does not have DS. Also, some of these things could be happening because of all the extra genetic material which makes them more prone to illnesses. Down Syndrome it self is not life threatening, but some of the symptoms of it can be. Such as Leukemia.

Most people with Down Syndrome have certain distinct looks. Such as: -Eyes are slanted upwards -Small ears that are sometimes folded at the top -Small nose with a flattened nasal bridge -Small hands with little fingers -May seem "Floppy"
 * The Appearance of DS:**

-The severity of DS varies between person to person. -It is an autosomal nondisjunction error where you recieve an extra copy of a chromosome. -The life expectancy of someone who has DS is about 55 years. -Down Syndrome mostly develops in women reproducing at an older age. -To determine if a woman has a fetus with Down Syndrome, they can take an AFP which is just simply a blood test. It is recommended to get this done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. -A Chronic Villus Sampling can also detect a fetus with DS. But there is a small risk of miscarriage. -There is no cure for Down Syndrome. -There is no specific treatment for DS, but there are treatments for other illnesses the person may develop. -It was named after John Langdon Down, he was the first Physician to identify DS.
 * General Facts:**

- NDSS [National Down Syndrome Society] -PDSSN [Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network] -NDSC [National Down Syndrome Congress]
 * DS Support Groups:**

-http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html -http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/downsyndrome.html -http://www.nichd.nih.gov/ -http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Down_syndrome_a_dominant_or_a_recessive_trait -http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-down-syndrome -http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=downsyndrome
 * References:**

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