It happens because there is an imbalance of chromosomes in either the development of the egg or sperm, or in the first or second division of the fertilized egg when an extra chromosome appears. The mother’s food, medication, physical activity or emotional condition will not result in the birth of a child with Down syndrome. What Causes Down Syndrome?ĭown syndrome is an accident of nature. The feature which most concerns parents at this early stage is intellectual disability. Certain abnormalities in the heart or intestines may also be present and can be detected by doctors in the early days of life. There are other features noticeable at birth, but the most common of which is poor muscle tone. It was in 1866 that Dr Langdon Down, an English physician, first described the Syndrome and remarked on the resemblance of the facial features to those of the Mongolian race, hence the unfortunate use of the words “Mongolian” or “Mongoloid”. Most of these children were taken and reared in convents where they became affectionately known as “Children of God”. Before modern terms, the life expectancy of a child born with Down Syndrome was relatively short, due to inferior medical knowledge of the day. They appear in 7th and 8th century writings, and many works of art. Malaysia Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre (MPSEC)įont size A - smaller font size A Reset font size A + larger font sizeĭown syndrome is probably almost as old as history itself.Augmentative & Alternative Communication/ AAC.Learning Disabilities/ Mental Retardation.

Science infographic on down syndrome