Philadelphia Down Syndrome Lawyers

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition in which a baby is born with 47 chromosomes rather than 46. In most cases of DS, the condition results when there is an extra second or third copy of the 21st chromosome. The extra chromosome causes problems in relation to how the brain and body develops.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, DS is the chromosomal condition that is most commonly occurring. Approximately one in every 691 babies is born with the condition. In the United States, there are over 400,000 people living with Down syndrome.

Symptoms & Common Problems of Down Syndrome

Down syndrome can occur in babies from every race and economic level. The symptoms can vary from infant to infant and can range from mild to severe. However, babies that are born with DS usually have an appearance that is widely recognized. Typically, the head is smaller than usual and may be shaped abnormally. According to PubMed Health from the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, other common physical signs of DS include the following:

• At birth, decreased muscle tone
• Eyes that slant upward
• Flattened nose
• Hands that are wide and shot, with short fingers
• Joints that are separated between the bones of the skull
• Small ears and mouth
• White spots on the colored part of the eye (known as Brushfield spots)

Additionally, a baby born with Down syndrome typically develops physically slower than normal. Most children with DS never reach their average adult height. Down syndrome may also result in slowed social and mental development, and can cause common problems such as bad judgment, slow learning, impulsive behavior, and a short attention span.

Infants born with Down syndrome may also suffer from various medical conditions, including Pennsylvania birth defects; eye problems, such as cataracts; hearing problems, often the result of frequent ear infections; hip problems, as well as dislocation risks; and sleep apnea, which results due to the narrowed airway, mouth, and throat of children with DS. Adults with the condition also have an increased risk of dementia.

Diagnosing Down Syndrome

The risk of a child being born with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older. The risk of a child being born with DS is significantly higher when a woman is 35-years-old and older. Additionally, a couple who has already had an infant that has DS has an increased risk of having another baby with DS.

During the first months of a woman's pregnancy, testing can be done to check to see whether a fetus has Down syndrome. It is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that all pregnant women be offered Down syndrome screening tests, regardless of their age.

If your child was born with Down syndrome and your doctor failed to inform you of the appropriate screening tests available or provided you with inaccurate test results, contact Anapol Schwartz. We can help protect your child's legal rights. To learn how our Philadelphia pediatric malpractice lawyers can help your family, call 866-735-2792 today. We offer free consultations.

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