[Carpal tunnel syndrome and Down's syndrome]

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by entrapment of the median nerve in the wrist, leading to pain, paraesthesia and numbness in the hand, especially at night. It is relatively common in adults but rare in children.

We describe a 13-year-old girl with Down's syndrome who was experiencing increased tiredness. Her sleep was disrupted by pain and tingling in her hands. Electrophysiological examination revealed a bilateral absence of median nerve conduction, confirming the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The diagnosis had not been made before, probably because the patient could not describe her symptoms and because carpal tunnel syndrome is not readily identified by doctors who mainly treat children.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a cause of tiredness. The literature suggests that individuals with Down's syndrome are at greater risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.