World Down Syndrome Day 2016- My Friends, My Community

The theme for World Down syndrome day 2016 is #MyFriendsMyCommunity raising awareness about their inclusion into society.

World Down syndrome day 2016 is celebrated on March 21^st with the theme #MyfriendsMyCommunity
Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder with an incidence of 1 in every 1000 baby born with this syndrome
Down syndrome is a condition in which an additional copy of chromosome 21 is present
People with Down syndrome have characteristic facial features that aid in identifying the condition

March 21^st is World Down syndrome day 2016 and the theme for this year is #MyFriendsMyCommunity to focus on Down syndrome and how people with Down syndrome can contribute to society.

The 21^st day of March was chosen as there is an additional copy of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome patients, also called trisomy 21.

Down Syndrome - Trisomy 21, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
Down Syndrome is a congenital disorder among children commonly born to older mothers. The condition is also known as ‘Up syndrome’ because of the cheerful persona of the Down children.

‘Active inclusion of people with Down syndrome into mainstream society will help promote their health and encourage their talents in the field of music and other arts.’

Causes and Risk Factors of Down Syndrome

An article published by Babu Rao Vundinti and Kanjaksha Ghosh titled “ Incidence of Down syndrome: Hypotheses and reality” published in Indian J Hum Genet. 2011 identifies causes and risk factors associated with Down syndrome and include -

Advanced maternal age
Aging of gametes
Oocytes becoming over ripe
Recent studies have shown gene polymorphisms that affect the metabolism of folate and homocysteine an important factor in trisomy 21 or downs syndrome.
Chewing tobacco
Use of contraceptive pill

Symptoms of Down Syndrome

People with Down’s syndrome exhibit certain characteristic physical and well as intelligence and developmental symptoms. As this is a congenital condition, the symptoms are present from birth but are recognised better as the child grows up.

Birth Defects - Genetic - Down Syndrome
Down’s syndrome, also referred by some, as ‘mongolism’ is a genetic condition that arises due to an extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21

Physical characteristics

Eyes slant upward and are placed further apart.
Neck, ears and head are small.
Hands are short with the fingers short.
There are no creases in the palm except for a single deep crease.
A distinct crease is found between the big and second toe.

Developmental and intelligence characteristics

Developmental milestones are longer
Speech and language learning takes increased time
Lack ability to focus for long, poor attention span
Show sudden impulsive behavior

Initially people with Down syndrome find it hard to grasp language skills but they soon learn enough to communicate for their needs. Over the years, people with the syndrome have shown remarkable ability to integrate within mainstream society, if they are given the right opportunity and support.

The following are some of the associated conditions–

Hearing defects - 60 to 80 percent of children have hearing deficits.
Congenital heart disease - 40 to 45 percent of children with Down Syndrome have congenital heart disease.
Intestinal abnormalities – can be found at a higher frequency than normal population.
Eye Problems – more common
Thyroid dysfunction - more common
Skeletal problems - noted at a higher frequency

Increased Risk & Susceptibility

Test your Knowledge on Down Syndrome
Down syndrome also known as Trisomy 21 is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome leads to impairments in cognitive ability and physical growth of the child.

People with Down syndrome are at an increased risk for -

Obesity
Leukemia
Alzheimer’s disease
Seizure disorders
Sleep apnea
Skin disorders

Down Syndrome Patients and the Promise They Hold

Many countries, including India, look upon people with Down syndrome with caution and do not let them into active mainstream society. However, they have shown tremendous courage in gaining recognition.

Caring for Children With Down Syndrome - Myths Debunked
Interview with Dr. Rekha Ramachandran a pioneer on Down Syndrome who runs a support group for and raises public awareness on this condition.

Emotional development: People with Down’s syndrome are always pictured as being happy and completely unaware of emotions around them. This is far from true as they express the entire range of emotions including anger and sadness. They understand kindness and warmth and they respond to such emotions with similar responses.

Key areas: A person with Down syndrome has many faculties and interest areas that can be tapped like becoming a dance exponent. Most people with downs syndrome enjoy arts and appreciate music and dance.

Cognitive ability: Some patients have a very mild delay in cognitive development but they may require additional time to comprehend situations. All it requires is patience to encourage them.

Special school: People with Down syndrome may require additional support while learning, which has more visual images. However, they should be included in normal schools.

Health: Most people picture people with Down’s syndrome as being sickly, however, advancements in medical technology have aided in promoting health.

People with Down syndrome should be treated with care and should be made to feel normal. This will promote their well being and encourage them to look for meaningful relationships within society. Many people with Down’s syndrome are being actively employed in banks, hotels and other places of business, allowing them to contribute to society.

This World Down syndrome day 2016 seeks to highlight their active inclusion into society by creating special bonds of friendship within the community #MyFriendsMyCommunity

References:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3276977/
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down/conditioninfo/Pages/symptoms.aspx
http://www.ndss.org/About-NDSS/Newsroom/Recent-News/World-Down-Syndrome-Day-2015/
https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/wdsd-conference

Source-Medindia