health

Children with Down syndrome have some degree of mental retardation
(average IQ scores are 35–70) as well as characteristic facial features that
include a head that is smaller than average, upward-slanting eyes, and a
flattened nose. The hands are short and broad with short fingers, and
they often have a single crease across the palm. Another characteristic feature
of Down syndrome is hypotonia, which is the medical term for poor
muscle tone. Children with Down syndrome often need extensive physical
therapy in order to learn to walk and move normally. In addition,
normal growth is slowed; most of these children never reach full adult
height.
Babies with Down syndrome are often born with severe heart defects
or blockages of the esophagus and small intestine. These conditions may
require surgery shortly after birth. These children are also at increased
risk of childhood leukemia.
Adolescents and adults with Down syndrome are more likely than
other people to develop health problems that include frequent infections,
cataracts, gastrointestinal reflux disease, hearing problems, sleep apnea,
dislocated hips, and hypothyroidism.