Be it limited, but the celebration of one’s abilities can bring moments of profound joy in their lives. Keeping this in mind, every year in October, World Down Syndrome Month is observed. Various organizations celebrate it as not just an awareness raising campaign but also to acknowledge and celebrate the abilities of people suffering from Down Syndrome. Various programs and campaigns are carried out around the world this month.
History Of World Down Syndrome Month
During this month, both government and non-government organizations, organize various programs with the aim of spreading public awareness, along with some cultural programs and activities for children and older people suffering from this disorder.
English physician John Langdon Down first gave information about this genetic disorder in his research. This disorder was named Down syndrome after him. After which, in 1950, French pediatrician and geneticist Jerome Léjouin, through his research, told the world about the imbalance of chromosomes, the root cause of the disease.
Understanding Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is also known as ‘Trisomy 21’. It is a genetic disorder in which the physical and mental growth of a child is not similar to that of other normal children. Their physical structure too is different from other children. Children have Down syndrome due to the high amount of chromosomes in the fetus.
People with Down syndrome also face many other health problems including Alzheimer's, epilepsy, hearing loss, ear infections, eye weakness, heart pathology, thyroid, anemia, intestinal obstruction and obesity. Down syndrome is found in 1 in 1000 children born every year. Children suffering from this disorder have weak muscles and behave differently than normal children.
Cause Of Down Syndrome
A baby is normally born with 46 chromosomes. The infant inherits a set of 23 chromosomes from its father and a set of 23 chromosomes from its mother. But Down syndrome occurs when either the mother or father contributes some additional chromosomes. An additional chromosome is inherited in the baby, increasing the count to 47. In most cases it is a genetic disease. However, the possibility of getting affected with this disease increases in the child, when the mother giving birth is 35 years or older and her brother or sister is suffering from this disorder. Apart from this, if the first child has Down syndrome, then the risk of getting this disease increases in the second child also.
Symptoms Of Down Syndrome
Most children with Down syndrome have weak muscles and joints, due to which they are unable to move around normally. Most of these children are born with heart, intestine, ear or breathing problems. Compared to normal children, the level of intelligence in these children is much lower. Also, their mental as well as physical development is very slow. But with the right medical examination and proper guidance, the lives of children with Down syndrome can be improved to a great extent.
Therefore, people with down syndrome may appear different but are also a part of the society and should not be treated differently. They should be embraced whole-heartedly and be admired for their limited abilities.
