health

The treatment of children with trisomy 21 is highly individualized.
Babies with heart defects or obstructions in the esophagus and digestive
tract usually need immediate surgery. Older children require periodic
checkups for cataracts, hearing loss, and thyroid problems. Some children
need special medications and diuretics for heart problems, and most
need to be monitored for frequent infections, particularly ear infections
and pneumonia.
At one time children with Down syndrome were either institutionalized
or put in special education programs apart from other children. By
the early 2000s, however, the emphasis in treatment was to give these
children as many opportunities as possible to go to school with other
children in their age group and participate in sports, group activities, and
other aspects of social life during the growing years.