Question
I am pregnant for about 2 months and would like to inquire about the characteristics of Down syndrome?
Answer
Down syndrome, also known as mongolism and trisomy 21, is one of the most common chromosomal diseases causing intellectual disability. The main characteristics of the disease include intellectual disability, growth delay, distinctive facial features, palm perforations, congenital heart disease, and gastrointestinal malformations. The prevalence of Down syndrome is not directly related to race or living standards; it is estimated that one in every 660 newborns is affected, making it the most common chromosomal abnormality.