Manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes en niños y adolescentes con síndrome de Down

We analyzed the clinical findings of students with Down syndrome (DS) at the John Langdon Down Foundation in Mexico City. The purpose was to know the most frequent medical problems in this population. Information was captured on a data base. Weight and height were registered in charts for DS patients to record the percentile for each patient. We studied 320 patients, 174 female and 146 male. The mean height at birth was 47.9±3.5 cm and the mean weight, 2.76±0.57 kg. The mean maternal age at birth was 32±7.4 years and the patients’ age ranged from 3 days to 35 years, 92% being under 12 years. The karyotype showed trisomy 21 in 92%, mosaic in 4.7% and translocation in 2.4%. In most of the patients under 12 years, the weight and height were in between percentile 10 and 90; however, the group under three years had more children at the lower end. Congenital heart defects were the most common malformations in 52% of the patients: patent ductus arteriosus in 57.2% of patients with cardiopathy; atrial septal defect in 34.6%, ventricular septal defect in 12.6% and other cardiac defects, including endocardial cushon defect, were present in 2.5%. The most frequent ocular defects were strabismus, blocked tear duct, nystagmus and refractive defect; neurological problems were epilepsy and attention deficit defect; among orthopedic conditions, pes planus and congenital hip dislocation. Fifteen out of 224 patients with thyroid tests showed hypothyroidism. The students are selected for the educational program of the Foundation, and it is important to know their most frequent medical problems in order to include preventive medicine programs and suitable treatments to benefit this population.