Medical problems in children with Down syndrome in the Erzurum area of Turkey

Down syndrome (DS) is diagnosed in approximately 1 Per 800 live births and is the most common known genetic cause of medical problems. To determine the prevalence of common medical problems in children with DS, a study was conducted between December 2003 and March 2010 in the Erzurum Nenehatun Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. 107 children with DS were entered into a retrospective observational study. Case notes were reviewed to obtain details regarding complications of children with DS. Medical problems such as cardiac, gastrointestinal, respiratory, sensory, orthopaedic anomalies, endocrine disorders, and obesity occur more frequently in children with DS. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of problems in children with DS.