A pessoa que tem Síndrome de Down tem maior risco de ter também problemas de saúde como problemas cardíacos, de visão e de audição.
However, each person is unique and has their own characteristics and health problems. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor every 6 months or whenever symptoms appear to identify and treat any health problems early.
The 10 most common health problems in infants and children with Down syndrome are:
About half of people with Down syndrome have a heart defect, so your doctor may observe certain parameters even during pregnancy to find out what heart changes may be present, but even after birth, tests such as echocardiography may be done to more accurately identify changes in the heart. heart.
How to treat: Some heart changes require surgery to correct them, although most can be controlled with medications.
A child with Down syndrome is more likely to have blood problems such as anemia, which is a lack of iron in the blood; polyglobulia, which is an excess of red blood cells, or leukemia, which is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
How to treat: To combat anemia, your doctor may prescribe the use of an iron supplement, in case of polyglobulia, a blood transfusion may be necessary to normalize the amount of red blood cells in the body, in case of leukemia, chemotherapy may be indicated.
It is very common for children with Down syndrome to have a hearing disability, which is usually due to the formation of the ear bones, and for this reason they can be born deaf, with reduced hearing and have an increased risk of ear infections, this can worsen and lead to hearing loss. The forehead of the small ear may tell a newborn if there is a hearing impairment, but it is possible to suspect if the baby does not hear well. Here are some ways to evaluate your baby’s hearing at home.
How to treat it: When the person has hearing loss or, in some cases, hearing aids can be placed in a way that listens better, but in some cases, surgery may be recommended to improve their hearing. In addition, each time an ear infection occurs, the treatment indicated by the doctor should be performed to quickly cure the infection, thus avoiding hearing loss.
Devido a fragilidade do sistema imune é comum que a pessoa com Síndrome de Down tenha maior risco de ficar doente, sendo afetado especialmente por doenças respiratórias. Assim, qualquer gripe ou resfriado pode virar uma pneumonia
How to treat: Your diet should be very healthy, the child should receive all vaccines at the recommended ages and should visit the pediatrician regularly to be able to identify any health problems as soon as possible to start the appropriate treatment, and thus avoid further complications. In case of flu or cold, you should know if a fever occurs, as this may be the first sign of pneumonia in your baby. Take the test online and see if it could actually be pneumonia.
People with Down syndrome have a high risk of hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce the required amount of hormones or hormones. This change can be detected during pregnancy, at birth, but it can also develop throughout life.
How to treat: Hormone medications can be taken to meet the body’s needs, but blood tests are required to measure TSH, T3 and T4 every 6 months to adjust the dose of the drug.
More than half of people with Down syndrome have visual impairments such as myopia, strabism and cataracts, the latter usually develop at more advanced ages.
How to treat: Exercise may be needed to correct strabism, wear glasses, or have surgery to treat cataracts when they appear
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air struggles to pass through the airways when the person is asleep, causing bouts of snoring and small moments of breathing interruption during sleep.
Como tratar: O médico pode indicar uma cirurgia para remover as amídalas e tonsilas para facilitar a passagem do ar ou indicar o uso de um pequeno aparelho para colocar na boca para dormir. Um outro equipamento é uma máscara chamada CPAP que joga ar novo no rosto da pessoa durante o sono e também pode ser uma alternativa, embora seja um pouco desconfortável inicialmente. Saiba os cuidados necessários e como tratar a apneia do sono no bebê.
Teeth often take a long time to appear and appear misaligned, but there may also be periodontal disease due to poor dental hygiene.
How to treat: After birth, right after each intake, parents should clean the baby’s mouth thoroughly with a clean gauze to ensure that the mouth is always clean, which contributes to the formation of baby teeth. The baby should see the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears and regular consultations should be made every 6 months. In some cases, it may be necessary to place braces on the teeth so that they are aligned and functional.
Because the child with Down syndrome is more likely to develop coeliac disease, the pediatrician may request that baby food be gluten-free and, if suspected, around the year of age, a blood test may be done that can help diagnose coeliac disease. .
How to treat: The diet should be gluten-free and a nutritionist can indicate what the child can eat, depending on their age and energy needs.
The first vertebrae of the spine are usually deformed and unstable, increasing the risk of spinal cord injury, which can paralyze arms and legs. This type of injury can occur when holding the baby without holding his or her head or playing sports. Your doctor should order an X-ray or MRI to assess your child’s risk of cervical spine problems and inform parents of possible risks.
How to treat: During the first 5 months of life, precautions should be taken to keep the baby’s neck safe, and each time he holds the baby in his or her lap, hold his or her head with his or her hand, until the baby has enough strength to keep the baby stable. But even after that, you should avoid the dangerous jumps that can damage this child’s cervical spine. As the child develops, the risk of spinal cord injury decreases, but it is always safer to avoid contact sports such as martial arts, football or handball, for example.
Adults with Down syndrome, on the other hand, can develop other diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol and age-related diseases such as dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common Alzheimer’s disease.
But in addition, the person can still develop any other health problems that affect the general population, such as depression, insomnia or diabetes, so the best way to improve the quality of life of the person with this syndrome is to have a proper diet, healthy habits. and follow all medical guidelines for life so that health problems can be controlled or resolved whenever they occur.
In addition, the person with Down syndrome should be stimulated by a baby. Watch the video below and see how: