Is Down Syndrome a infectious disease?

Is Down Syndrome a infectious disease?

DS individuals may have a high frequency of infections, usually of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by increased severity and prolonged course of disease, which are partially attributed to defects of the immune system.

Do Down syndrome kids have a weak immune system?

Children with Down syndrome (DS) suffer from recurrent respiratory infections, which represent the leading cause of mortality during childhood. This susceptibility to infections is usually considered multifactorial and related to both impaired immune function and non-immunological factors.

What type of disease is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome.

Is Down Syndrome a terminal illness?

Approximately 25-30% of patients with Down syndrome die during the first year of life. The most frequent causes of death are respiratory infections (bronchopneumonia) and congenital heart disease. The median age at death is in the mid-50s.

Do Down syndrome live long?

Reality: The average life expectancy for a person with Down syndrome is nearly 60 years old. Some people with Down syndrome have lived into their 80s. It is true that people with Down syndrome on average don’t live as long as their typical counterparts.

How serious is Down syndrome?

Potentially serious complications — The most serious complications of Down syndrome include heart defects, blood disorders that can include leukemia (cancer of the blood), and immune system problems. Heart defects — Approximately half of all babies with Down syndrome are born with (often repairable) heart defects.

How do you know if your newborn has Down syndrome?

At birth, babies with Down syndrome usually have certain characteristic signs, including:

1. flat facial features.
2. small head and ears.
3. short neck.
4. bulging tongue.
5. eyes that slant upward.
6. atypically shaped ears.
7. poor muscle tone.