Genetic diseases refer to diseases caused by the increase, decrease, or mutation of genetic material. Most patients have congenital diseases, but there are also cases of acquired diseases. Because its causes are all genetic factors, it is also known as genetic disease. There are many types of genetic diseases with different manifestations. So, what are the genetic diseases in children?
1. Down syndrome. The disease is caused by the increase of the patient's chromosome 21 from two to three. Only 40% of the affected children can survive, and the survivors have obvious facial features, delayed intelligence, growth and development disorders, which are generally caused by the aging of eggs in elderly mothers.
2. Albinism. Albinism patients have lighter skin and hair colors throughout their bodies, lack melanin, and their skin is highly sensitive to light, making them susceptible to dermatitis after exposure to sunlight. Usually, if the mother has albinism, the son also has albinism.
3. Phenylketonuria. The main characteristics are intellectual disability, but if the disease is detected in early infancy and early intervention is given, it can manifest as normal intelligence and abnormal EEG can also be restored.
In addition to the three types of genetic diseases in children mentioned above, common genetic diseases in children include congenital heart disease, asthma, and cleft lip. Some of them can be cured through intervention treatment, while others can only be controlled through lifelong medication. Parents must do the following before their children are born:
1. Pre marital physical examination. It can effectively prevent consanguineous marriage and reduce the probability of children carrying disease causing genes.
2. Choose the appropriate reproductive period. The best age for a woman to become pregnant is before the age of 30. Once she exceeds the age of 35, the likelihood of her child developing genetic diseases increases significantly.
Most genetic diseases in children are difficult to cure, which not only brings economic and psychological burden to families, but also has a lifelong impact on children. Parents should not only be responsible for themselves, but also for their children. Genetic diseases also have a familial tendency, so those who have relatives with genetic diseases in their family genealogy should pay more attention to premarital physical examinations.
