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Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome A genetic disorder (caused by the presence of an extra chromosome), which results in physical and mental abnormalities. Physical characteristics include a flattened face, widely spaced and slanted eyes, smaller head size and lax joints. Mental retardation is also typical, though there are wide variations in mental ability, behavior, and developmental progress. Possible related health problems include poor resistance to infection, hearing loss, gastrointestinal problems, and heart defects.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Genetic
Hereditary. Having to do with the genes.
Retardation
Delay or halt of any process such as mental or physical development.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Gastrointestinal
Having to do with the stomach and intestines.
Heart
The hollow, muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the circulatory system.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Down East Community Hospital
Down East Community Hospital is a hospital in Machias, Maine (USA).
Down syndrome critical region
(Abbreviated DSCR) A region on the long (q) arm of chromosome 21 thought to be responsible for some, if not all, of the features of Down syndrome. A number of genes in this region may be involved in the production of the Down syndrome phenotype. These genes may include the Down syndrome critical region 1 gene or DSCR1 on chromosome 22q11.2; DSCR2 on chromosome 21q22.3; DSCR3 in chromosome 21q22.2; DSCR4 on chromosome 21q22.2; and DSCR5 in chromosome region 21q22.1-q22.2.
Down syndrome features
Children with Down syndrome have multiple malformations and mental impairment due to the presence of extra material from chromosome 21. Among the more common physical features are hypotonia (floppiness), small head with brachycephaly, epicanthic folds across the inside corners of the eyes, upward outward slanting palpebral fissures (eye slits), Brushfield spots in the iris, small mouth, small ears, excessive skin at the nape of the neck, a single transverse palmar crease, and short fifth finger with clinodactyly (incurving). A wide space, often with a deep fissure between the first and second toes, is also common. There is an increased risk of congenital heart defects (50%); leukemia (<1%); hearing loss (75%); otitis media (ear infections) (50%-70%); Hirschsprung disease with absence of nerves from the bowel (<1%); gastrointestinal atresia (12%); eye disease (60%), including cataracts (15%) and severe refractive errors (50%); acquired hip dislocation (6%); obstructive sleep apnea (50%-75%); and thyroid disease (15%). There is no increased risk of solid tumors.
Downey Regional Medical Center
Downey Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Downey, California (USA).
Downregulation
An decrease in the number of receptors on the surface of target cells, making the cells less sensitive to a hormone or another agent. Some receptors can be rapidly down regulated.
Downunder doctor
A doctor who, being or not a citizen of that country, has been admitted to practice medicine in Australia or New Zealand.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Dental phobia
Dental phobia is a fear, or phobia, traditionally defined as an irrational and exaggerated fear of dentists and dental procedures.
Di George Syndrom
A genetic disease caused by a missing piece of chromosome material on chromosome 22 that results in many different health problems, and affects the normal fetal development of the heart, thymus, and parathyroid glands.
Doxycycline
A tetracycline derivative; an antibiotic that inhibits many of the microorganisms infecting the reproductive tract. Often used for treating ureaplasma infections. Many physicians find routine treatment with this antibiotic more cost-effective than performing multiple cultures on both the husband and wife looking for infection.
Dementia
The loss, usually progressive, of cognitive and intellectual functions, without impairment of perception or consciousness; caused by a variety of disorders, most commonly structural brain disease. Characterized by disorientation, impaired memory, impaired judgment and lowered intellect.
Degenerative Disc Disease
The disc material that sits between the bones of the spinal column act like shock absorbers. Over time this fibrous gelatinous matter loses the ability to absorb water and is called degenerative. Having a degenerative disc can cause pain usually in the neck or lower back depending on where in the spine the disc is located. If surgical treatment is considered, surgery includes removal of the degenerated disc and placement of metal instrumentation to fuse the bones together to avoid instability. Surgical options also include less invasive percutaneous (through the skin) needle procedures.
Down Syndrome
Diet pill
Anorectics, anorexigenics or appetite suppressants, are substances which reduce the desire to eat ("anorectic", from the Greek an- = "not" and oreg- = "extend, reach").
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is an umbrella term for a variety of processes by which a person addicted to a drug stops using that drug. These processes can vary from cold turkey to the use of substitute drugs which do not have the same action upon the state of consciousness as the original drug to which the person was addicted.
Diet
In nutrition, the diet is the sum of the food consumed by a body. Proper nutrition for a human requires vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fuel in the form of carbohydrates and fats. Imbalances between the consumed fuels and expended energy results in either starvation or excessive reserves of adipose tissue, or body fat
Dicodid
Hydrocodone (chemical synonym: dihydrocodeinone; trade names: Vicodin, Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Tussionex) is an opioid derived from either of the natural occuring opiates -- codeine or thebaine. Hydrocodone is an orally active analgesic and antitussive Schedule II narcotic which is marketed in multi-ingredient Schedule III products. The therapeutic dose of 5 mg to 10 mg is pharmacologically equivalent to 30 to 60 mg of oral codeine.
Diabetic
Pertaining to Diabetes. Patient suffering from this condition.
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