Downs syndrome is a common birth defect, and the most recognizable among all types of birth defects. Despite advances is medicine and prenatal care received throughout a pregnancy, each year million of babies are born with birth defects. The severity varies. Some have defects that are easily corrected with surgery, whereas others have defects that will pose a life-long battle. Although children born with downs syndrome may develop additional health problems, this birth defect is not debilitating. Those with downs syndrome are able to attend school, work, make friends, and function normal in society.

What is Downs Syndrome?

Downs syndrome is a medical condition that occurs when a baby inherits an extra or irregular chromosome from one of their parents. Our chromosomes store our genetic information. Each person has 46 chromosomes. We inherit an equal number of 23 from both of our parents. In rare cases, a baby may inherit an extra chromosome, or one chromosome may have an extra part. This causes problems in the way a baby develops physically and mentally. Children and adults with downs syndrome have very distinct facial characteristics, and may have below-normal intelligence. Low intelligence is characterized as mental retardation. For the most part, those with downs syndromes have a mild case of mental retardation

How Common is Downs Syndrome?

Downs syndrome is extremely common and approximately 4,000 babies are born with this medical condition each year. That’s roughly 1 out of every 800 births. Additionally, downs syndrome does not discriminate. A common belief is that this condition only affects Caucasians. However, downs syndrome affects all races. The number of incidents among African-Americans, Asians, and Hispanics are low. Still, children of these races may be born with this birth defect. Downs syndrome is not contagious, nor is it a disease that develops later in life. Downs syndrome is detected shortly after birth. Doctors are unsure why a baby inherits an extra chromosome. Moreover, there are no preventative measures. However, certain risk factors may contribute to a baby being born with downs syndrome.

Risk Factors

The following are risk factors that greatly increase the chances of having a baby born with downs syndrome. These include:

Mothers giving birth later in life. Today, many women are waiting until their mid-thirties and forties to have babies. This may be ideal for career-minded women, but it increases the odds of downs syndrome. The occurrence of downs syndrome babies in women over the age of 35 are 1 in 350. Moreover, this risk increases to 1 in 25 for women giving birth pass the age of 45.

Fathers having children later in life. Research has concluded that men over the age of 50 have a greater chance of having a baby with downs syndrome. Having another child with downs syndrome. If you already have a child with downs syndrome, the odds of having another child with the same condition is 1 in 100.

Medical Consequences

Unfortunately, children born with downs syndrome have a strong chance of slow development. This might include difficulty with learning and language. With therapies and tutoring, these developmental issues are manageable. However, additional health problems are also common among those living with downs syndrome. More than half of all downs syndrome babies also develop heart defects. Heart defects are generally corrected with surgery. Stomach and intestinal problems are also common. These problems make it difficult for children to digest their foods properly. Vomiting, nausea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort are common. Other common problems include recurrent lung infections which results in breathing difficulties. Leukemia, a form of cancer, may also develop in children born with downs syndrome. Moreover, adults living with downs syndrome may show signs of Alzheimer's disease at a very early age.

Symptoms of Downs Syndrome

Symptoms of downs syndrome consist of 50 distinct characteristics. Children and adults living with downs syndrome may show all, or most of these general body features.

• Shorter height
• Low muscle tone
• Hyper flexibility
• Broad feet with short toes
• Short, broad, arms and legs
• Small head
• Abnormal shaped skull
• Short ears
• Shorts hands and fingers
• A single crease along the palms of hands
• Unusually shaped rib cage
• Slanting eyes
• Protruding nose
• Protruding stomach

Prevention and Cures

When a baby is born with a birth defect, often times the parents begin to wonder whether they were responsible. However, downs syndrome is a birth defect that cannot be prevented. No amount of prenatal care or vitamins can control or influence the number of chromosomes a baby inherits. Thus, parents should not blame themselves.

Because children born with downs syndrome were prone to infections and heart problems, many babies died prematurely. Today, most health problems associated with downs syndrome are treatable, which contributes too many children living very long lives. For example, advances in medicines have contributed to successfully treating severe recurrent infections. Surgery is extremely effective with correcting heart defects and gastrointestinal defects. If diagnosed early, leukemia victims may undergo treatment (surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy) to treat this form of cancer. Although there is no cure for downs syndrome, many doctors, and researchers across the globe are diligently searching for ways to prevent this birth defect.

Future Outcome

Much of the population thinks negatively of those living with a disability. For the most part, children living with downs syndrome attend school. Those with a case of mild mental delay may also attend regular classes. They may require supplemental training or tutoring to help in specific subjects, but overall, downs syndrome children can function in a normal school setting and enjoy playtime with other classmates.

After graduating high school, those living with downs syndrome may attend specialized classes intended to help them learn a skill that will allow the opportunity for employment. Many adults with downs syndrome are high functioning. Thus, they are able to hold a job. Perhaps you have observed a person with downs syndrome working in an office, retail store, grocery store, or restaurant. In addition, individuals with downs syndrome have the ability to live in their own homes and operate a motor vehicle.