ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to introduce the health professional to the person with Down's syndrome. Documented in 1866, it was only explained in 1959. It is a genetic abnormality caused by an extra chromosome. There are three 21st chromosomes instead of the usual two, hence the other name for Down's syndrome, Trisomy 21. There are other rare forms of chromosomal disorder. The mother's age is a key risk. Although 70% of Down's people are born to women under 35, the risk of a baby with Down's syndrome is 15 times higher if the mother is aged 40, compared with a mother aged 21. One-third of Down's syndrome babies are identified before birth, but advances in testing before birth may increase that number. People with Down's syndrome have an affectionate, happy personality with an inherent sense of fun, but they also have a number of difficulties which make it harder for them to interact and join with their peers.
