Patient's question:
The daughter of a friend of mine has Down syndrome. It was difficult for her parents to get pregnant, but now they are watching as children of the same age are already running, yet their daughter, at the age of 4 or 5, still cannot walk. I want to know what causes Down syndrome, how to prevent it, and what the best treatment is for it.Doctor's answer:
Hello! Down syndrome is a congenital disease caused by chromosomal abnormalities. Clinically, it is characterized by intellectual disability, delayed physical development, often accompanied by other deformities, and a poor immune system, making it easy to get sick. Common causes of this disease include advanced maternal age, exposure to radiation in the second trimester of pregnancy, or taking certain medications, among others. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease. It can only be managed through active education and training to help children develop certain self-care abilities. It is important to prevent infections, and severely affected individuals usually require lifelong care from family members.