Patient's question:
During prenatal check-ups, the doctor recommended a Down syndrome screening. Why is it necessary for pregnant women to undergo a thorough check for Down syndrome?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome screening is a test method that extracts pregnant women's serum, examines the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin in maternal serum, and estimates the risk coefficient of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome by combining factors such as the pregnant woman's due date, age, weight, and gestational age at the time of blood collection. It is better to check to avoid the possibility of having a sick child. Down syndrome is a sporadic disease, so every pregnant woman has the potential to give birth to a "Down syndrome child." The probability of giving birth to a Down syndrome child decreases as the pregnant woman's age decreases. Down syndrome has a significant impact on children. Once a mother notices the symptoms of her child, she should immediately take the child to a regular hospital for diagnosis.