AZE.US
The number of people with Down syndrome registered at medical institutions in Azerbaijan has increased by 31% over the past five years, according to official data.
The total rose from 857 to 1,122, with children under the age of 13 accounting for the largest group.
The increase in registrations does not necessarily indicate a proportional rise in the number of babies born with Down syndrome. Improved detection and more consistent medical registration may also affect the figures.
Doctors emphasize that Down syndrome is not a disease but a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.
In approximately 95% of cases, the chromosomal change occurs spontaneously and appears in a family for the first time. In a smaller share of cases, it may be linked to a balanced chromosomal rearrangement carried by one of the parents without any visible symptoms.
Advanced maternal age, particularly over 35, is considered one of the main risk factors. However, many babies with Down syndrome are born to younger women because pregnancies and births are more common in that age group overall.
Children with Down syndrome may experience delayed physical and neurological development, reduced muscle tone, congenital heart defects and thyroid disorders. They also face a higher risk of certain blood-related conditions.
Specialists say regular medical monitoring, rehabilitation and specialized education programs can play a critical role in a child’s development and quality of life. Growth, neurological and social development, thyroid function and blood indicators may require continued assessment.
The likelihood of Down syndrome can be evaluated during pregnancy through modern prenatal screening.
One widely used method is noninvasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, which analyzes fragments of fetal DNA found in the mother’s blood. The test is highly accurate as a screening tool, but it cannot provide a definitive diagnosis.
A positive NIPT result must be confirmed through diagnostic procedures such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Doctors recommend regular examinations beginning at the pregnancy-planning stage. Early detection allows families to make informed decisions and prepare the medical, developmental and social support a child may need.
AZE.US