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Health problems and health checks in school-aged children with Down syndrome
1Tumbatin Developmental Clinic, Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Children with Down syndrome frequently experience health issues, including congenital heart defects, refractive errors, and hearing loss. Regular health checks are crucial for early detection and management of these conditions in individuals with Down syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Down syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with various health complications.
- Early identification and management of health problems in children with Down syndrome are essential for improving outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of specific health problems in a cohort of children with Down syndrome.
- To inform parental counseling and the planning of routine health surveillance for this population.
Main Methods:
- A survey involving parent questionnaires and interviews was conducted.
- Data were collected on congenital heart defects, refractive errors, hearing issues, respiratory infections, atlanto-axial instability, and hypothyroidism.
Main Results:
- Congenital heart defects were present in 35.3% of children.
- Refractive errors affected 34.6%, and 'glue ear' was diagnosed in 54.9%, with 11% experiencing permanent hearing loss.
- Atlanto-axial instability was found in 7%, and hypothyroidism in 3% of tested children.
Conclusions:
- Children with Down syndrome exhibit a high prevalence of various health conditions requiring ongoing monitoring.
- Findings underscore the importance of comprehensive health assessments and targeted interventions for children with Down syndrome.
- This study provides valuable data for healthcare providers and parents in managing the health needs of children with Down syndrome.
Abstract:
A survey by parent questionnaire and interview was carried out to determine the frequency of health problems in 204 children with Down syndrome. Seventy-two children (35.3%) had a congenital heart defect. Refraction had been performed on 196 and 68 (34.6%) of these had a refractive error. A diagnosis of 'glue ear' had been made in 112 (54.9%) and in 12 (11%) of these permanent hearing loss was present. Significant ill-health over the previous 12 months consisted of cardiac failure (two children), more than three upper respiratory tract infections (24 children), bronchitis (eight children), pneumonia (two children) and asthma (seven children). A neck X-ray had been performed in 172 (84.3%) and had demonstrated the presence of atlanto-axial instability in 12 (7%) of these. One hundred and thirty-two (64.7%) of the children had been tested for hypothyroidism in the previous 18 months and this had been found in four (3%) of these children. The implications of these and other findings are discussed in relation to parental counselling and planning of routine health checks.