World Down Syndrome Day 2025: Every year March 21 is marked as World Down Syndrome Day to raise awareness about the condition. It also signifies the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Although it is not know why this condition occurs, Down Syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. In December 2011, the General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day.
According to United Nations, the estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder. Cleveland Clinic says that people diagnosed with Down syndrome have happy and healthy lives with supportive care.
What are the symptoms of Down Syndrome?
Symptoms and their severity are different from person to person. Some of the common symptoms include:
- A flat nose bridge.
- Slanted eyes that point upward.
- A short neck.
- Small ears, hands and feet.
- Weak muscle tone at birth.
- Small pinky finger that points inward towards the thumb.
- One crease in the palm of their hand (palmar crease).
- Shorter-than-average height.
- Ear infections or hearing loss.
- Vision problems or eye diseases.
- Dental problems.
- Being more prone to infections or illnesses.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
- Congenital heart disease.
What is the cause of Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome occurs because of changes in the way cells in chromosome 21 divide. Every person with Down syndrome has an extra chromosome 21 in some or all of their cells, Cleveland Clinic says.
There are three types of Down syndrome with different causes, including:
- Trisomy 21.
- Translocation.
- Mosaicism.
How Down Syndrome is treated?
There’s no cure for Down syndrome. However, certain treatment options can help your child. Treatment options could include:
- Physical or occupational therapy.
- Speech therapy.
- Participating in special education programs in school.
- Treating any underlying medical conditions.
- Wearing glasses for vision problems or assisted hearing devices for hearing loss.