As every mother and father knows, their child is one of the most important parts of their lives. They feed them, bathe them and clean them. They protect their little cherubs from any harm which might come to them and they do everything in their power to try and help them in life.
During their formative years, this care and attention is on full alert. Making sure that the house is toddler proof is very important as they have a tendency to bump their heads and bodies into anything sharp, which can cause horrible injuries if not seen to. When the child starts to crawl, fitting a baby rail is very important because if any wandering child starts to crawl up the stairs there is a chance that they can easily fall down the stairs and hurt themselves, therefore resulting in potential medical attention. However, there are some aspects of a child’s life which cannot be prevented from happening no matter how much of a protective parent you are.
Down’s Syndrome is an example of this. Down Syndrome is caused when an extra chromosome is present in either an egg or sperm. When the egg becomes fertilised by the sperm, the child will have Down Syndrome. A child who has this can lead a rewarding and fulfilling life and is no major hindrance to them as long as the people around them give them all the love and support they need, especially in their early years. But what are the symptoms of Down Syndrome and what signs can you as a parent self-diagnosis before seeing your doctor to fully determine?
There are several symptoms to a child with Down Syndrome. These include:
-The back of the head is flattened
-The bridge of the nose if flattened
-An overly small mouth which might leave the tongue to appear large and not stay in the mouth all the time
-The eyes being low-set which slope forwards
-A smaller-than-average height and the child being born with a lesser weight than other children
These symptoms are not the same for every child who has Down Syndrome. Even if they have one or two of the above symptoms , this does not automatically mean that the child has Down Syndrome and it is recommended for you and your child to visit your GP or paediatrician so that a full diagnosis can be determined.
