Trisomy 18---Edwards Syndrome
Edwards syndrome, or Trisomy 18, is a genetic disorder, in which a person has a third copy of material from chromosome 18, instead of the usual two copies. It is three times more common in girls than boys. The syndrome is caused by the presence of extra material from chromosome 18, which interferes with the normal development.
Many babies with Edwards syndrome are either miscarried, stillborn or born with severe physical abnormalities.
The symptoms of Edwards syndrome may differ from one affected individual to another. Some of the signs and symptoms of Edwards syndrome are:
- Underdeveloped fingernails
- Undescended testicles
- Unusual shape of the chest
- Feet with a rounded bottom
- Low birth weight
- Clenched hands
- Under developed or missing thumbs
- Crossed legs
- Webbing of second and third toe
- Upturned nose
- Widely placed small eyes with narrow eyelid folds
- Drooping of upper eye lids
- Low-set ears
- Mental deficiency
- Small head
- Small jaw
- Cleft in iris
- Umbilical hernia
- Diastasis recti
- Structural malfunctions of heart, brain, genitals, kidneys, and the digestive tract, may cause problems in breathing, feeding etc.
- Delay in growth and development
- Infections in lungs and in urinary system