Do people with Downs syndrome have medical problems?
Certain medical problems are more common in people with Down’s syndrome. These include: • 40-50% of babies with Down’s syndrome are born with heart problems, half of which require heart surgery • A significant number of people with Down’s syndrome will have hearing and sight problem • Thyroid disorder • Poor immune system • Respiratory problems, coughs and colds • Obstructed gastrointestinal tract However, with advances and increase access to medical care most of these problems are treatable. The Down’s Syndrome Association along with the Down’s Syndrome Medical Interest Group have produced health care guidelines to assist families and health professionals to set up screening programmes so that health problems can be picked up early on and treated before they become more serious. None of these problems is unique to people with Down’s syndrome, they also appear in the rest of the population. It is also important to remember that some people with Down’s syndrome do not experience any hea
