PRENATAL SCREENING OF DOWN SYNDROME
- Down syndrome is the commonest form of chromosomal disorder worldwide.
- Down syndrome is the commonest cause of severe mental retardation.
- Every pregnant woman has a chance (risk of having a child with Down syndrome)
- The vast majority of pregnancies affected by Down syndrome have no clearly identified risk factors.
- The risk for Down syndrome is higher, when there is a previous Down syndrome in the family (immediate or extended).
- Down syndrome occurs more commonly in pregnant women above 35 years.
- Down syndrome is not caused by witch craft or sorceries.
- Down syndrome is not related to dietary indiscretion or mistake of drugs or alcohol.
- All pregnancies should be screened for Down syndrome through nuchal translucency scan and/or maternal blood analysis.
- Only screen positive pregnancies are advised to have invasive test such as chorionic villous sampling or amniocentesis.