What are the causes and symptoms of Down syndrome?
While Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, a baby is usually identified at birth through observation of a set of common physical characteristics. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be overly quiet, less responsive, with weak, floppy muscles. Furthermore, a number of physical signs may be present. These include: • flat appearing face • small head • flat bridge of the nose • smaller than normal, low-set nose • small mouth, which causes the tongue to stick out and to appear overly large • upward slanting eyes • extra folds of skin located at the inside corner of each eye, near the nose (called epicanthal folds) • rounded cheeks • small, misshapen ears • small, wide hands • an unusual, deep crease across the center of the palm (called a simian crease) • a malformed fifth finger • a wide space between the big and the second toes • unusual creases on the soles of the feet • overly-flexible joints (sometimes referred to as being double-jointed) • shorter than normal height Other types of d
