A person with Down syndrome has a higher risk of having health problems such as heart, vision and hearing problems.
However, each person is unique and has its own specific characteristics and health problems. Thus, it is important to go to the doctor every 6 months or whenever there is any symptom to identify and treat any health problem early.
The 10 most common health problems in infants and children with Down's syndrome are:
1. Cardiac defects
About half of people with Down syndrome have a defect in the heart and so the doctor can observe certain parameters even during gestation to know which are the cardiac changes that may be present, but still after birth can be performed exams such as echocardiography to more accurately identify the changes present in the heart.
- How to treat: Certain heart changes need surgery for correction, although most can be controlled with medicines.
2. Blood problems
The child with Down's Syndrome is more likely to have problems in the blood like anemia, which is the lack of iron in the blood; Polycythemia is the excess of red blood cells, or leukemia, which is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
- How to treat: In order to combat anemia the doctor can prescribe supplementation of iron, in case of polycythemia it may be necessary to make blood transfusion to normalize the amount of red cells in the body, in the case of leukemia, chemotherapy may be indicated .
3. Hearing problems
It is very common for the child with Down syndrome to have a change in hearing, which is usually due to the formation of the bones of the ear, so they may be born deaf, with hearing loss and are at higher risk of ear infections, which can worsen and cause hearing loss. The forehead of the ear may indicate from an infant if there is any impairment of hearing but it is possible to be suspicious if the baby does not listen well. Here are some ways to test your baby's hearing at home.
- How to treat: When the person has decreased hearing or in some cases of hearing loss, devices can be placed on the ears so that they can hear better, but in some cases surgery may be recommended to improve the ability to listen. In addition, whenever an ear infection arises one must perform the treatment indicated by the doctor to cure the infection quickly, thus avoiding hearing loss.
4. Increased risk of pneumonia
Due to the fragility of the immune system it is common for the person with Down syndrome to have a greater risk of becoming ill, especially affected by respiratory diseases. So any flu or cold can turn into pneumonia
- How to treat: Your food should be very healthy, your child should take all vaccines at the recommended ages and should go to your pediatrician regularly to be able to identify any health problem as soon as possible to start the appropriate treatment, and thus avoid further complications. In case of flu or cold should be aware if fever appears because this may be the first sign of pneumonia in the baby. Take the test online and see if it really can be pneumonia or if it's just the flu or the flu.
5. Hypothyroidism
People with Down syndrome have a high risk of having hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce the right amount of hormones, or no hormones. This change can be detected during gestation at birth but it can also develop throughout life.
- HOW TO TREAT: It is possible to take hormone medicines to meet the needs of the body but it is necessary to have blood tests to measure TSH, T3 and T4 every 6 months to adjust the dose of the medicine. Learn more about hypothyroidism treatment.
6. Vision problems
More than half of people with Down syndrome have some visual changes such as myopia, strabismus and cataracts, and the latter usually develops at a later age.
- How to treat: It may be necessary to do exercises to correct strabismus, wear glasses or have surgery to treat cataracts when it manifests itself
7. Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the air is difficult to pass through the airway when the person is asleep, this causes the person to have episodes of snoring and short stopping moments of breathing while sleeping.
- How to treat: Your doctor may order surgery to remove tonsils and tonsils to ease the passage of air or indicate the use of a small device to put in the mouth to sleep. Another equipment is a mask called CPAP that throws new air into the person's face during sleep and can also be an alternative, although it is a bit uncomfortable initially. Learn the care needed and how to treat sleep apnea in the baby.
8. Changes in teeth
The teeth usually take time to appear and appear to be misaligned, but there may also be periodontal disease due to poor tooth hygiene.
- How to treat: After birth, soon after each feeding, parents should thoroughly clean the baby's mouth using a clean gauze to ensure that the mouth is always clean, which helps in the formation of baby teeth. The baby should go to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears and the regular consultants should happen every 6 months. In some cases it may be necessary to place the appliance on the teeth to be aligned and functional.
9. Celiac Disease
Because the child with Down's Syndrome is more likely to have celiac disease, the pediatrician may request that the baby be free of gluten, and if suspected, by 1 year of age a blood test can be done that may help in the diagnosis of celiac disease.
- How to treat: Food should be gluten-free and a nutritionist can indicate what the child can eat, according to their age and energy needs.
10. Spinal injury
The first vertebrae of the spine are usually deformed and unstable, which increases the risk of spinal cord injury, which can paralyze arms and legs. This type of injury can happen when holding the baby without supporting your head, or while playing sports. The doctor should order X-rays or MRI scans to assess the child's risk of cervical spine problems and inform the parents of possible risks.
- How to treat: During the first 5 months of life, care must be taken to keep the baby's neck safe, and whenever you hold the baby on your lap, support your head with your hand until the baby is strong enough to hold his head firm. But even after that happens, one should avoid somersaults that can cause damage to the child's cervical spine. As the child develops the risk of a spinal cord injury is diminishing, but it is still safer to avoid contact sports such as martial arts, soccer or handball, for example.
The adult with Down syndrome can develop other diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol and aging related diseases such as dementia, with more common Alzheimer's.
But in addition, the person can still develop any other health problem that affects the general population, such as depression, insomnia or diabetes, so the best way to improve the quality of life of the sufferer is to have a proper diet, healthy habits and follow all medical guidelines throughout life, because health problems can be controlled or resolved whenever they arise.
