New Delhi: Down syndrome is a genetic condition produced by an additional whole or partial copy of chromosome 21 due to faulty cell division and is characterized by developmental delays and physical characteristics caused by excess genetic material. It was first described by British physician John Langdon Haydon Down in the year 1862, but it was only in 1959, the French physician Jérôme Lejeune identified Down syndrome as a chromosomal condition.
In Down syndrome, a person is born with an extra chromosome which can cause physical and mental challenges in the infant.
A child with down syndrome is usually shorter than the rest, with flattened face, slender neck, protruding tongue, muscle tone issues etc. (Also read: Sofía Jirau becomes first model with Down Syndrome to pose for Victoria’s Secret)
World Down Syndrome Day is observed annually on March 21 to raise public awareness of the genetic condition. The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder, according to United Nations.
People with Down syndrome suffer from developmental delays and cognitive impairment and is a leading cause of learning impairments in children. It can also create other health issues, such as cardiac and gastrointestinal problems.
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