Down Syndrome (cont.)
Newborns
Babies with Down syndrome often have hypotonia, or poor muscle tone. Because
they have a reduced muscle tone and a protruding tongue, feeding babies with
Down syndrome usually takes longer. Mothers breast-feeding infants with Down
syndrome should seek advice from an expert on breast feeding to make sure the
baby is getting sufficient nutrition.
Hypotonia may affect the muscles of the digestive system, in which case
constipation may be a problem. Atlantoaxial instability, a malformation of the
upper part of the spine located under the base of the skull, is present in some
individuals with Down syndrome. This condition can cause spinal cord compression
if it is not treated properly.
Infants and Preschool Children
Medical care for infants with Down syndrome should include the same well-baby
care that other children receive during the first years of life, as well as
attention to some problems that are more common in children with Down syndrome.
If heart, digestive, orthopedic or other medical conditions were identified
during the neonatal period, these problems should continue to be monitored.
During the early years of life, children with Down syndrome are 10-15 times
more likely than other children to develop leukemia, a potentially fatal
disease. These children should receive an appropriate cancer therapy, such as
chemotherapy. Infants with Down syndrome are also more susceptible to transient
myelodysplasia, or the defective development of the spinal cord.
Compared to the general population, individuals with Down syndrome have a
12-fold higher mortality rate from
infectious diseases, if these infections are left untreated and unmonitored.
These infections are due to abnormalities in their immune systems, usually the
t-cell and antibody-mediated immunity functions that fight off infections.
Children with Down syndrome are also more likely to develop chronic respiratory
infections, middle ear infections,
and recurrent tonsillitis. In addition, there is a 62-fold higher incidence of
pneumonia in children with Down syndrome than in the general population.
Children with Down syndrome may be developmentally delayed. A child with Down
syndrome is often slow to turn over, sit, stand, and respond. This may be
related to the child's poor muscle tone. Development of speech and language
abilities may take longer than expected and may not occur as fully as parents
would like. However, children with Down syndrome do develop the communication
skills they need.
Parents of other children with Down syndrome are often valuable sources of
information and support. Parents should keep in mind that children with Down
syndrome have a wide range of abilities and talents, and each child develops at
his or her own particular pace. It may take children with Down syndrome longer
than other children to reach develop mental milestones, but many of these
milestones will eventually be met. Parents should make a concerted effort not to
compare the developmental progress of a child with Down syndrome to the progress
of other siblings or even to other children with Down syndrome.
Next: Early Intervention and Education »
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