Is Down syndrome hereditary?

When the pregnancy reaches a certain month, many doctors will require pregnant women to undergo Down syndrome screening, but many women do not take it seriously, especially young women who think they will not have this problem at their age. However, there are quite a few pregnant women who are diagnosed with this disease. So is Down syndrome hereditary? This is not a hereditary disease, but a disease caused by genetic changes due to infection or improper medication during pregnancy.

Down syndrome is not a hereditary disease, so whether or not there is a family history is of no reference value. Down syndrome is a congenital disease caused by a gene mutation, which is caused by an extra chromosome 21. It may be caused by the pregnant woman's illness, medication, and exposure to harmful substances such as radiation during pregnancy. Since Down syndrome is a genetic disease, there is currently no cure.

How to prevent Down syndrome

There is currently no effective treatment. The best option is to terminate the pregnancy before the woman gives birth. Prenatal diagnosis is an effective measure to prevent the birth of children with Down syndrome. Couples with a history of the disease should undergo prenatal diagnosis when they have another child, namely chromosome karyotype analysis. Sampling includes mid-pregnancy amniocentesis for analysis of amniotic fluid cells, mid-pregnancy embryonic chorionic villus cells, and mid-pregnancy umbilical cord blood lymphocytes. The measurement of prenatal screening serum markers HCG and AFP has certain clinical significance because it can reduce the blindness of prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis, indicate the existence of a high-risk pregnant woman group, and enable these pregnant women to undergo further prenatal examinations and consultations, thereby preventing the birth of children with Down syndrome to the greatest extent possible.

Down syndrome screening is a responsible examination for the fetus. Expectant mothers should undergo various examinations during pregnancy to ensure the normal and healthy growth and survival of the fetus. The best way to prevent Down syndrome is to terminate the pregnancy. This may be a cruel reality for expectant mothers, but for the growth of the fetus after birth, expectant mothers still need to make a clear choice.