Condition that alters how body, brain grow
The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
AKDN / Gary Otte
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Article Author: Condition that alters how body, brain grow
Media Source: The Star (Kenya)
Date: 27 April 2021
Dr Kathrene Oyieke, paediatric neurologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, writes that Down syndrome is a genetic disorder where a person has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. Chromosomes are small "packages" of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows in the…
Dr Kathrene Oyieke, paediatric neurologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, writes that Down syndrome is a genetic disorder where a person has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. Chromosomes are small "packages" of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows in the womb and after birth. There are two basic types of tests available to detect Down syndrome during pregnancy: screening tests and diagnostic tests. The immune system of people with Down syndrome is compromised and they are more vulnerable to infections, certain kinds of cancer and autoimmune conditions. Though there is no cure for Down syndrome, there are services available to help babies and children improve their physical and intellectual abilities.