MENTAL slowness
Protection from infections
Children with Down syndrome get sick more often than other
children. They can easily catch colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and
other infections. So it is very important to protect their health.
• Breast feed the child as long as possible. Breast milk has
‘antibodies’ that help the child to fight infections. (If he
cannot nurse well, milk your breasts and feed him the milk,
using a spoon or any way that works.)
• Like any baby, at 6 months start giving her other foods such as fruit, beans, eggs,
and rice, but also continue to breast feed her. (Like any baby, weigh her each month
at the health center to be sure she is growing well.)
• Vaccinations can protect her from many childhood diseases. A child with Down
syndrome who catches measles or whooping cough can easily get pneumonia.
• Early medical attention When she gets a sore throat, earache, or bad cough, take
her to a health worker as soon as possible.
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PREVENTION of foot deformities and other problems
• Check all newborns for possible dislocated hip, so that it can be corrected as soon
as possible (see p. 155).
• For the child
whose big toe
sticks out,
do not use hard shoes
that bend the big toe
inward like this.
It is better to wear tennis shoes, or
other soft shoes, or sandals.
This can
cause a
painful
dislocation
here.
When the big toe sticks out a lot, its position can sometimes be corrected with surgery,
so that shoes will fit without problems.
• If the child has severe flat feet, a special insole may help. (See p. 118.)
• If any sign of paralysis or lack of feeling develops in the hands, feet, or body, get advice
from an orthopedist or a neurosurgeon.
PREVENTION of Down syndrome
One out of every 800 children is born with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is more
likely to occur in babies of mothers older than 35 years of age. It is wise for older women
to plan their families so as to have no more children after age 35 (see Where There Is No
Doctor, Chapter 20). Also, if a couple already has one child with Down, the chance of having
another is higher than normal (about one in 50).
In some countries a test (amniocentesis) can be done at about 4 months of pregnancy to
see if the child will have Down syndrome. If so, the family can consider abortion.
disabled village children