3 Health Conditions with Down Syndrome: Beyond the basics

The above picture very well defines the challenges that the Down’s patients face with respect to their health.

Almost all the major systems are affected by Down’s syndrome and a lot of support and care is required by the caregivers and the medical professionals to help such patients lead a good quality of life.

Some of the conditions that are affected by Down’s syndrome are – 

• Heart defects

Almost one-half of babies with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease (CHD), the most common type of birth defect. Some heart defects are minor and may be treated with medication, but others require immediate surgery. 

Mitral valve prolapse and valvular regurgitation (left valve of the heart does not close properly) occur in as many as 57 and 17 percent of adults with Down syndrome, respectively.

• Leukemia

Children with Down syndrome are much more likely than other children to develop leukemia. Those with Down syndrome are also more likely to have anemia (low iron in the blood) and polycythemia (high red blood cell levels), among other blood disorders. These conditions may require additional treatment and monitoring.

Leukemia symptoms in children with Down syndrome

• more frequent infections.
• easy bleeding and bruising.
• bleeding gums or nosebleeds.
• pale skin.
• cold sensitivity.
• fatigue and weakness.
• fever.
• breathing difficulties, such as chronic cough or shortness of breath.

• Hormonal disorders

Down syndrome can affect the way the body produces or responds to hormones. For example, people with Down syndrome often do not make sufficient thyroid hormone, which can contribute to problems with weight. They are also at risk for type 1 diabetes, which requires treatment with insulin injections.

They also have higher chances of developing obesity, short stature, vitamin D deficiency, low bone mineral density, and gonadal dysfunction than the general population

Management:

There is no treatment specifically for Down syndrome, but there are several important treatments for the complications of the condition. That is why it is important to have children screened for these complications at regular intervals throughout their youth.

• Having children routinely screened can help ensure that they will get the appropriate treatment as soon as any Down syndrome-related complications arise