National Down Syndrome Day 2015

20 October

National Down Syndrome Day is commemorated to create awareness about down syndrome and to communicate facts about the condition.

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What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder arising at conception. There is an extra number 21 chromosome (Trisomy 21) which causes delays in physical and intellectual development

Facts about Down syndrome

• People with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental damage.
• The cause of Down syndrome is not related to age, race, religion or socio-economic situations.
• One in 1 000 babies born in developed countries and 1 in 650 babies born in developing countries is affected by down syndrome.
• 80 percent of children affected by Down syndrome are born from mothers under the age of 35, although women over the age of 35 are at a higher risk of having a child with Down syndrome.
• Although Down syndrome cannot be cured, there is a variety of medical care to treat problems associated with the disease.
• Children with Down syndrome can be included in normal schools with regular academic procedures.
• People with Down syndrome can live up to the age of 50 to 55.

Source: Down Syndrome South Africa