Down Syndrome?

Question

What is Down Syndrome and how do kids get it? My friends' baby has it and I was wondering what it does to a baby? She was diagnosed it with it when she was born. Can someone give me a website that I can get info from and learn more about it. They said she was born with a healthy heart, what does that mean? Also they said she only has a mild case of it. Has anyone had the same situation? What was the outcome?

Answer 1

My daughter Amberlynn Age5 has Down Syndrome. When they say she has a heathy heart it's because she is without murmures or other defects. there are over 300 different afflictions of DS. To have a mild case is to have few or less severe of them. It's really the luck of the draw which ones you get. To be totally honest the last thing you or your friend should do is research on the web. I made this mistake and what I found was tons of mortifying and inaccurate info. The best thing is to read books and talk to people. Anyway DS is a genetic defect. Everyone gets 2 of each chromosome. People with DS have one extra one. That's all. It's no ones fault and it is unfortunate. If you want you can E-mail me at [e-mail]. I'll answer all your Q. Ask me anything you want. :)

Answer 2

Down Syndrome is a trisomy of the 21st chromosome. but is can also be a trisomy of the other chromosomes. We're all suppose to have 2 of each chromosome. One from each parent. Kids with down syndrome have 3 of a chromosome. They don't get it, they're born with it. its genetic. Before conception either mom's egg or dad's sperm had 2 chromosomes instead of 1.
http://children.webmd.com/tc/Down-Syndrome-Topic-Overview
Most down syndrome children have heart trouble. She's fortunate not to have that. What they mean a mild case is, one symptom is mental retardation. some down syndrome children can at least finish high school with proper assistance and can at least hold a job. Others never even learn how to talk. I'm guessing she'll fall in the finishing high school category. The other symptoms that come with down syndrome probably arent that bad. I've never been in the same situation but I have had experience with these kids.

Answer 3

Down syndrome is an anomaly of chromosome 21, causing mental retardation, microcephaly, short stature, and characteristic facies. Diagnosis is suggested by physical anomalies and abnormal development and confirmed by karyotype analysis. Treatment depends on specific manifestations and anomalies.
Please see the web pages for more details on Down syndrome.