Patient's question:
The child of my sister is three years old this year, but we all feel that the child is not quite normal when we look at him. He looks like a little fool. When we took the child for a thorough examination, we found that he has congenital idiocy. The doctor said it is Down syndrome. What kind of help is needed: How long can people with Down syndrome live?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is a chromosomal abnormality of the autosomes and is the most common type of pediatric chromosomal disease. The incidence rate in live births is approximately 1 in (600 to 800). The older the mother, the higher the incidence of this disease.The main characteristics of Down syndrome in children include intellectual disability, delayed physical development, and a distinctive facial appearance. Affected children have wide-set eyes, a low and flat nasal bridge, small palpebral fissures, upward slanting outer corners of the eyes, and a fold of skin at the inner corner of the eyes (epicanthal fold). They also have small ears, a narrow and small hard palate, and a tongue that is often lifted outside the mouth, leading to excessive drooling. The children are short-statured, with a head circumference smaller than normal, bone age often lagging behind chronological age, delayed teething, and teeth often misaligned. Their hair is fine, soft, and sparse. The limbs are short, and due to loose ligaments, the joints can be excessively bent. The fingers are thick and short, and the little fingers often bend inward.