National Down Syndrome Day is commemorated to create awareness about down syndrome and to communicate facts about the condition.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder arising at conception. There is an extra number 21 chromosome (Trisomy 21) which causes delays in physical and intellectual development
Facts about down syndrome:
* People with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental damage.
* The cause of Down syndrome is not related to age, race, religion or socio-economic situations.
* One in 1 000 babies born in developed countries and 1 in 650 babies born in developing countries is affected by down syndrome.
* 80% of children affected by Down syndrome are born from mothers under the age of 35, although women over the age of 35 are at a higher risk of having a child with Down syndrome.
* Although Down syndrome cannot be cured, there is a variety of medical care to treat problems associated with the disease.
* Children with Down syndrome can be included in normal schools with regular academic procedures.
* People with Down syndrome can live up to the age of 50 to 55.
Read more: https://www.gov.za/national-down-syndrome-day
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Dr. Wolmarans: 012 549 8900 / office@gjmw.co.za
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