Patient's question:
I had an X-ray at the hospital when I was about two and a half months pregnant. Now I'm three and a half months along, and can the Down syndrome screening detect if the fetus is abnormal?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the Down syndrome screening is used to identify children with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a sporadic condition, so every pregnant woman has the possibility of giving birth to a "Down syndrome child." The risk of having a Down syndrome child increases with the age of the pregnant woman. Children with Down syndrome have severe intellectual disabilities, cannot live independently, and often suffer from complex cardiovascular diseases, requiring long-term care from family members. This can impose a significant emotional and financial burden on the family. If you want to rule out fetal abnormalities, it is recommended to have a four-dimensional ultrasound examination at the hospital between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. This is a screening test for fetal abnormalities.