Down Syndrome
Pregnancy tests,what is it, how does it effect you, etc.
The Nature of The Disease
- Down Syndrome unbalances growth and development of many parts of the human body, body systems.The following systems are affected by down syndrome:
- The Nervous System
- The Immune System
- The Muscular System
- The Skeletal System.
Most common symptoms from down syndrome are health problems, structure of their face (certain features) & body (size and shape).
Some specific health problems are:
Short in Size- The average rate of growth in a child decreases when diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
A wide. Short neck-When diagnosed with down syndrome the person has excessive fat and skin in the neck area.
Weak muscles- the muscles are affected by hypotonia (weakens the strength of the muscle and lack of elasticity.
Short thickset arms & legs- There's usually a wide space between the first and second toe.
Small ears- The placement of the ears are lower then its supposed to be on the head.
Slanted eyes- Tissue tends the build up more around the eyes however this after the vision.
Cause of The Disease
For example, if a woman has the age of 20 the probability of her child getting down syndrome is 1 in 2,000 however if a woman is 49 years old then the likelihood is 1 in 10. So as a woman ages the probability increases. Down syndrome is a genetic disease.
The Severity of The Disease
Down Syndrome is a potentially fatal disease, it might occur in giving a child diagnosed with Down Syndrome leukemia.
When diagnosed with Down Syndrome you don't live to be an old age. Although it isn't quite certain when a person diagnosed with Down Syndrome may die the majority of them may live up to 50 if not younger.
Down Syndrome is not capable of being spread in any way, down syndrome is a birth defect that is caused by more then the normal amount of chromosome. When having Down Syndrome it isn't to severe that you die automatically, you can live to be a normal human and do activities as others, just that you learn at a slower pace and look a bit differently other then that you're pretty normal.
Impact of Down Syndrome on Society
Being that down syndrome is very common, society is now taking measures to find better ways for people diagnosed with down syndrome to live and become apart of the society instead of them being left behind.
Because people with down syndrome take longer to process things than a person without down syndrome would.
As down syndrome became apart of the society schools, work forces, health care systems, and other activities were created just for people with down syndrome.
- Another way this syndrome has impacted society is by advancing the medical technology. Doctors have now found new ways to increase the life span of a person diagnosed down syndrome.
As time goes on people are now accepting, educating, and socializing with people diagnosed with down syndrome.
Down Syndrome FUN FACTS!!!
These treatments may result as:
- Surgery
- Regular check ups and screening
- Counseling and support
- Medication
This results to a higher risk of premature death. to prevent this they are needed to go to regular checkups to deal with a problem founded and have it taken care of, or just to see if everything is functioning right and don't need any future assistance of surgery and other treatments.
Pregnancy
''Screening and Diagnosis
Screening Tests During Pregnancy
Various screening tests can help identify the possibility of Down syndrome. These screening tests do not provide conclusive answers but provide an indication of the likelihood of the baby having Down syndrome. The most common prenatal screening tests include:
- Ultrasound
Blood tests – The results of the ultrasound are paired with blood tests.
- First Trimester Screen – This is a two-step screening. The maternal blood is tested for two normal first-trimester proteins. Then, an ultrasound is used to look at the nuchal translucency region under the skin behind the baby’s neck. This test is done between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy.
- Quad Marker Screen – Maternal blood is tested for four substances that normally come from a baby’s blood, brain, spinal fluid and amniotic fluid. This test is done between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.
- Triple Screen – During the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy a blood test can be performed which measures the quantities of three substances: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is produced by the fetus, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and unconjugated estriol which is produced by the placenta. In determining the results of the test, health care providers take into account the mother’s age, weight and ethnicity.
Diagnostic Tests During Pregnancy
If the screening tests are positive or a high risk for Down syndrome exists, further testing might be needed. Diagnostic tests that can identify Down syndrome include:
- Amniocentesis – performed after week 15.
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) – performed between the 9th and 14th week.
- Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) – performed after week 18.''