How can down syndrome be avoided

Children with Down syndrome may also need extra help or attention in school, although many children are included in regular classes. The views of these organizations are their own and do not reflect the official position of CDC. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Birth Defects. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Facts about Down Syndrome. Minus Related Pages. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

There is no cure for Down syndrome. But a child with Down syndrome may need treatment for problems such as:. Heart defects. About half of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects. Some defects are minor and can be treated with medicines. Others may need surgery. All babies with Down syndrome should be looked at by a pediatric cardiologist. Babies with Down syndrome should also have an echocardiogram. This is a test that looks at the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves.

This exam and test should be done in the first 2 months of life. This is so that any heart defects can be treated.

Intestinal problems. Some babies with Down syndrome are born with intestinal structure problems that need surgery. Vision problems. Common problems include crossed eyes, nearsightedness or farsightedness, and cataracts.

Most eyesight problems can be made better with eyeglasses, surgery, or other treatments. Your child should see an eye doctor pediatric ophthalmologist before he or she turns 1 year old. Hearing loss. This is caused by fluid in the middle ear, a nerve defect, or both. Your child should get regular hearing tests so any problems can be treated early. This will help with language development. Other health problems.

Children with Down syndrome may have thyroid problems and leukemia. They also tend to have many colds, as well as bronchitis and pneumonia. Your child should get regular medical care and stay up to date on vaccines. Learning problems. These vary widely from child to child. School of Medicine, Family Medicine. Some cases of Down syndrome can be prevented by being aware of the disease risk factors and also utilizing available screening tests.

Mainly, the older the mother more than 30 years old , the higher the chance of chromosomal errors and Down syndrome. Also, if there is a history of previous children with Down, then there is a much greater chance of having another affected child. Screening tests are now standard in most prenatal care and can give parents an idea of the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities.

There are exceptions to all the above, and so not all cases can be prevented. National Down Syndrome Society. Frequently asked questions. Prenatal genetic diagnostic tests. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Ostermaier KK. Down syndrome: Management. Down syndrome: Clinical features and diagnosis. Accessed Jan. Gabbe SG, et al. Genetic screening and prenatal genetic diagnosis. In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies.

Philadelphia, Pa. Rink BD, et al. Screening for fetal aneuploidy. Seminars in Perinatology. Bunt CW, et al. The role of the family physician in the care of children with Down syndrome. American Family Physician. Butler Tobah YS expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Related The genetic basis of Down syndrome.