What is Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome, named after a physician, John Langdon Down who, in 1866 published his paper in which he described a set of children with common features who were distinct from other children with mental retardation. The condition was previously described as 'Mongolian Idiocy' and later on it came to be known as Langdon Down Anomaly, Down's Syndrome, or Anomaly or Congenital Acromicria.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes physical defects and mental retardation. It is also known as 'Trisomy 21' as the individual with such condition carries three sets of chromosome 21 instead of two, which changes the body’s and brain’s normal development.

You can find common physical and mental features in children with Down Syndrome but still symptoms of this condition can range from mild to severe. Generally, such children will have slow mental and physical development as compared to children without it.

What are the health problems that might affect a baby who has Down syndrome?

Such babies develop language skills slowly. Nearly half of the babies with Down syndrome are also born with heart problems. They may have dementia too. Some babies may have intestinal problems, skeletal problems, Celiac disease, thyroid disease, vision trouble or hearing loss.

Some common physical signs of Down syndrome include:

* Outwardly slanted eyes
* White spots on the iris of the eye
* Flat ears set low on the head
* Flattened face and short neck
* Small teeth
* Relatively small hands and feet
* Poor muscle tone, loose ligaments

The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older.

Risk of Down Syndrome:

Age of Mother: Chance of having a baby with Down syndrome

20 years 1 in 1,667

25 years 1 in 1,300

30 years 1 in 950

35 years 1 in 365

40 years 1 in 100

45 years 1 in 30

If you already have a child with Down syndrome then you are more likely to have another child with the same condition.

If you or your partner have abnormalities in their own chromosome 21 then also you are at higher risk for having a baby with Down Syndrome.

Can Down syndrome be diagnosed during my pregnancy?

There are several prenatal tests that can help detect Down Syndrome such as Ultrasound scans, Maternal serum screening (specialised blood test), Amniocentesis and Chorionic villi sampling.

How do we known if my baby has Down Syndrome after birth?

After an infant is born, doctors can do blood test to confirm whether the baby has Down syndrome. Down syndrome cannot be cured.