Patient's question:
I am more than two months pregnant. I read online about the dangers of Down syndrome and would like to ask what are the characteristics of Down syndrome?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome (also known as mental retardation and trisomy 21) is one of the most common chromosomal disorders causing intellectual disability. The main characteristics of this condition include intellectual disability, growth retardation, distinctive facial features, palmar creases, congenital heart defects, and gastrointestinal malformations. The incidence of Down syndrome is not directly related to ethnicity or living standards. It is estimated that one in every 660 newborns suffers from Down syndrome, making it the most common chromosomal variation.