FACTS ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME

As October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, it’s a good opportunity to look at some misconceptions about the condition that needs to be dumped firmly in the past.

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False: The cause of Down syndrome is hereditary
Truth: Babies born with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome 21. In only 1% of cases is it inherited; in 99% it is a random genetic condition with an unknown cause, not related to food or medication taken during pregnancy. It occurs in all racial, religious and socio-economic groups. It is estimated that two babies of every 1 000 live births in South Africa are likely to be born with Down syndrome.

Related article: Family health history: Why it’s important and what to know

False: People with Down syndrome die young
Truth: Unfortunately, in the past, this used to be true because people with Down syndrome are more susceptible to a range of conditions from heart defects to thyroid dysfunction, as well as hearing and vision problems. They also have a higher risk of developing leukaemia at a young age (2.8% risk). However, each person is different and no one has all these conditions.

Fortunately, awareness of these associated conditions means that screening can be done at an early age, and medical science has made many advances so that these conditions can be successfully treated. People with Down syndrome in South Africa, therefore, have an average life expectancy of 55 years, which means many live well into their 70s.



False: Babies with Down syndrome are born only to older women
True: Over 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35 years. The age of the mother does play a role in increasing the likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome. Researchers are also looking at whether the age of the father has any effect. Women over 35 years have a 1 in 350 chance, and this increases to 1 in 100 over the age of 40 years. However, because more mothers at younger ages are having babies than those over 35, the number is greater in younger women.



Related article: The A-Z of children’s health

False: Children with Down syndrome can’t learn anything
True: Although children with Down syndrome do have some intellectual disability, this does not mean they are incapable of learning. But they learn in different ways, e.g. they find visual learning more effective. In South Africa all children, whether they have a disability or not, have the right to go to school. Unfortunately, even some teachers in mainstream schools have this misconception and feel that they cannot teach children with Down syndrome, so in practice, most children with Down syndrome go to special schools. Down Syndrome South Africa advocates for reasonable accommodation to be made to include children: allow them extra time to work at their own pace, allow assistants to help them in the classroom and teach them in a format that they can understand.

Related article: 8 Foods that help kids focus

False: Babies with Down syndrome can’t breastfeed
True: Breastfeeding is not only possible for babies with Down syndrome, but also beneficial. Apart from the usual benefits of breast milk in strengthening the immune system and providing protection against infection, the sucking mechanism of breastfeeding promotes muscle tone, which may be weak in babies with Down syndrome. This strengthens the babies’ lips, tongue and face muscles, which helps with later feeding and learning to speak. All babies need to learn to ‘latch on’ to the breast so moms may need to get some help from breastfeeding counsellors in the early stages.

More information
Visit DOWN SYNDROME SOUTH AFRICA or call 012 001 2441/012 001 2442. Alternatively, e-mail dssaoffice@icon.co.za. Pamphlets are available to download in Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Xhosa and Zulu.

Sources:
https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/misconceptions-vs-reality/
https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/downs-syndrome-and-breastfeeding/
https://downsyndrome.org.za/information-pamphlets/