2. Edwards Syndrome Edward’s Syndrome is a rare genetic chromosomal syndrome where the child has an extra third copy of chromosome 18. When this disorder happens, most fetuses are usually aborted. It is more common than Down syndrome. It usually causes mental retardation.
3. Other Names Some other names for Edwards Syndrome is 18 trisomy, trisomy 16-18, trisomy E, and Orofaciodigital syndrome.
4. Causes Most causes of Edwards Syndrome are spontaneous nondisjunction during meiosis. The oldest age that anyone lived with this disease is 32 ½. Females are more likely to get this disease than males are.
5. Incidence Rates This disease happens in 1 in 3,000 live births. It usually happens when the mother is older and she has the baby. Most babies that are born with this doesn’t have a very high rate of surviving. They usually don’t survive because of internal organ malfunctions.
6. Risk Factors Some of the risk factors that go along with this disease are central nerve system, eye/nose malfunctions, cleft lip, abnormal ears, and defects of the heart. Babies that are born with this disease usually don’t live past 2 to 10 days. If they do live they have mental and physical development delays.
7. Symptoms Symptoms for this disease is mental retardation, low set ears, low birth weights, the baby doesn’t eat well, cries a lot, small lower jaw, small mouth.
8. Treatments Treatment is usually issued to the parents to give to the babies. Babies with this disease usually cannot suck very good. Since they don’t get the nutrition that they need, the parents have to use gavage feedings to feed them.
9. Complications Babies that are born with this disease are born with an extra chromosome 18. It is not very common for babies to survive after their first year.
