Patient's question:
The child was born only a few days ago, and recently, for some unknown reason, they have been scratching their ears frequently. Could this be related to a Trisomy 21 condition? How should one proceed?Doctor's answer:
Hello,The main characteristics of children with Down syndrome include intellectual disability, delayed physical development, and distinctive facial features. Affected children have wide-set eyes, a flat nasal bridge, small palpebral fissures, upward slanting outer corners of the eyes, epicanthal folds, small ears, a narrow and small hard palate, and a tongue that often protrudes from the mouth, leading to excessive drooling. They are short-statured, have a smaller head circumference than normal, and their bone age often lags behind their chronological age. Teething is delayed and teeth are often misaligned. Their hair is fine, soft, and sparse. Their limbs are short, and due to ligamentous laxity, their joints can be excessively flexible. Their fingers are thick and short, and the little fingers often curve inward. Diagnosis and evaluation are necessary.