Understanding Down syndrome

Down’s syndrome is a folk term for Down’s syndrome, which was first described and published by Dr. John Langdon Down in 1866. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly named March 21 as “World Down Syndrome Day” to raise public awareness and care for Down syndrome. Down’s syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality (an extra chromosome 21) that results in a unique trisomy of chromosome 21, mostly due to the non-separation of chromosome 21 from the mother’s egg. Fetuses with this disorder exhibit slower than normal development in utero and are born with peculiar facial features, low ear position, wide eye spacing, thick neck skin, and limb deformities. Most people with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment or mental retardation. There is no particularly proven treatment for Down syndrome and prevention is the main focus. Prenatal screening for women during pregnancy is extremely important to prevent Down syndrome. Further confirmatory tests for a positive Down’s syndrome screen include amniocentesis or chorionic villus examination. The tests can be divided into 3 categories according to their means: serological tests, ultrasound tests and non-invasive prenatal DNA tests and the latest non-invasive prenatal genetic tests. Every 20 minutes, a child with Down’s syndrome is born in China, and about 800,000 to 1.2 million “Down babies” are born each year. A comprehensive approach to Down syndrome is needed, including medical, intervention and social services to support care, and long-term patient education and training for patients. During infancy, mothers should try to increase breastfeeding time, as studies have shown that certain components of breast milk promote better development of the baby, and by sucking on breast milk to exercise oral motor coordination, early developmental promotion training can also better promote the baby’s various abilities. While interventions may not necessarily make a huge difference for babies with Down, the small improvements that come from interventions can make a big difference in their destiny. Let’s work together to care for babies with Down’s syndrome and let them show their self-worth in society.