The Disease
Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, affects babies who have just been born. Most doctors will be able to tell really early if your child will have trisomy 18 in prenatal testing. There are two types of tests: Screening and diagnostic. In a screening doctors use data from previous families who have had the same screening as you and then see what the odds are for your child to get Trisomy 18. THIS DOES NOT diagnose your child it just shows you the chances like the chances of snow on the news. A diagnostic checks the cells of the baby themselves to see if they have trisomy 18 and or other diseases you are trying to diagnose. THIS DOES diagnose your child which means is shows they either have the disease or they don't. I would not suggest doing a diagnostic unless you have a history for a disease because it can kill your child and if you really want to know for sure be prepared for possible consequences.
Trisomy 18 is caused by a chromosome defect. Trisomy 18 occurs 1 in 2,500 pregnancy in America and 1 in 6,000 in the world. 50% of children with this disease will be stillborn(which means the baby is born dead). When the baby is born they will need intensive care. Boys have a higher death rate than girls and most who survive birth will not make it to their first birthday. Only 10% can make it past there first birthdays and in some cases they have lived to their 20's and 30's, but they need caregivers because they can't live on their own.
Different types of Trisomy 18 |
There are three different kinds of Trisomy 18: Full, Partial, and Mosaic.
1. Full Trisomy 18 appears in 95% of all cases and it is just an extra chromosome appears on the 18th gene and it appears in all cells. Also this type is not hereditary 2. Partial Trisomy 18 is very rare and only occurs when part of the extra chromosome is present and can sometimes be hereditary 3. Mosaic Trisomy 18 is also rare and only shows up in some cells and is not hereditary |
Symptoms |
The symptoms are hearing defects, kidney problems, part of the intestinal tract outside the stomach, the esophagus doesn't connect to the stomach, excess amniotic fluids, clenched hands, pocket of fluid in the brain, rocker bottom feet, delayed growth, small jaw, small head, low set ears, strawberry shaped head, severe developmental delays, and umbilical or inguinal hernia.
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