Down's Syndrome is also known for its medical term trisomy 21. Chromosomes in the body come in pairs however there are instances where a child may have an extra copy of chromosome number 21. Most of the time, this extra copy doesn't really have to be a complete chromosome as a part of it is enough to create a trisomy. It's now possible to know if the child has this disorder even if he or she's not yet born with the help of amniocentesis and prepare the parents on what to expect.
You will know a child has DS by just looking at their physical appearance. This is because the occurrence of extra chromosome causes several changes in their physical development. Here are some of this disorder's physical sign.
Their eyes may look different from what other children may have. They may appear to be slanted upward than the usual. This slant may cause the eyes to be almond in shape. Skinfolds can also be found at the eye corners.
Second, their overall proportion may not look balanced in different ways. The size of their heads may be smaller than their body size. If you'll look closely, the head should be proportion with the body size particularly on the shoulder length. Thus, a smaller head will leave a perception that it's not that proportioned with the overall size of the child. Another instance is these children may have larger physique due to low metabolism so having a smaller head size will make their proportion look different.
Third, their hands may also present various physical signs of DS. Their hands may look wider than the usual but smaller in size. They may also have smaller and chubbier fingers than other children. If you will examine their palms properly, you can see that a single line may cross from one end to the other. This line is also known as simian crease.
When it comes to the mouth, you will notice some children that may have tongues that are not proportional with their mouth in terms of their size. Their tongue may look a bit larger than the usual compared to their mouth. This is why you'll notice some children who may have difficulty speaking. There are also instances where babies with DS are born with cleft palate or having an opening or gap on their palate due to under development.
Looking closely, Down's Syndrome may have these several physical signs but it's important to check on the main cause of this issue which is chromosomal disorder. This issue can be identified even during pregnancy with the help of amniocentesis that's why most parents already know this problem even before their baby is born.
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