Down Syndrome Flashcards
1
Q
What are the physical health needs for Down syndrome?
A
The syndrome is genetic and changes can occur at a cell level this can cause differences in organ systems. Such as
- Heart- congenital heart defect
- Gastrointestinal issues- reflux or constipation
- Respiratory issues- leading cause of death
- Thyroid- weight gain
- Teeth- irregular shape
- Atlanto- axial joint- spinal compression
- Eyes- refractive errors
- Ears- hearing loss
2
Q
What are the mental health needs of Down syndrome?
A
Misconceptions
Major mental health related concerns
- Mental well-being
- Feeling down
3
Q
What is included in a Down syndrome health check?
A
- vision checks- 2 yearly
- growth- BMI checks
- cardiac health checks- from 14 years of age have a heart assessment to check for heart disease
- annual heath checks
