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Original poster

Could this be downs syndrome ?

27 replies

geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:19

Hi,
Took my 9 month old to the hospital today for a BCG jab (due to extended visit to SA)and the Paedatrician commented on the folds of skin in the inner corner of her eyes (called Epicanthal fold) - he said it might be a sign of Downs - but as there are no other signs it is not. He asked if anyone else in the family has it and my MIL who was with me said yes my DH's brother - but she didn't tell the paed that the brother was severely mentally handicapped and the Paed then said well then its probably just a family feature. Now I am worried about it as I have been looking on the internet and see that it is a feature of children with DS and unusual in non-DS children. Anyone have any advice - I cant see that she has any other DS features. Should I take her to be assessed ??? Am very worried now esp as MIL told me that my DH's uncle has 7 out of the 10 features of DS children ! Thanks for advice.

OP posts:
Thomcat · 30/09/2005 23:27

Well does she have any of the other traits?
How is her development, and her muscle tone etc etc etc? Does she have a nose bridge or is it totally flat? Bit hard to advise you really but you shouldn't panic, or worry, okay.

Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:32

Hi

Muscle tone is fine, no crease in hand, eyes not slanted, not sure about flat bridge - hard to tell as she is only 9 months and nose is still "blobby" - I guess it is quite flat in between the eyes but that might just be a baby thing. She is crawling and pulling up and starting to cruise and babbling a bit so developmentally fine.

OP posts:
Enid · 30/09/2005 23:33

dd1 had epicanthal folds and still has very very slightly. she also had a very flat bridge to her nose. But she does not have downs syndrome. I could post a baby pic if you like

Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:37

thanks that would be great. did you have her tested for downs or did you just know ?

OP posts:
Enid · 30/09/2005 23:37

hold on

Enid · 30/09/2005 23:38

no one ever suggested it (apart from my MIL!) and it just never occurred to me - also I looked exactly the same as a child

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:40

Oh gosh my ds, dd and dsd have it and so does my dh. I promise you, none of them has Downs! It's just a family feature. And it is more prominent in babies than in older children and adults.

Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:40

It never occurred to me b4 either ! The Paedeatrician just dropped it into conversation as he was administering the jab !

OP posts:
Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:41

gosh - so much for it not being common ... thanks i feel a lot better now !

OP posts:
Enid · 30/09/2005 23:42

have you seen muy pic

Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:42

Enid - sorry to be dense where do I go for pic ?

OP posts:
Enid · 30/09/2005 23:44

here

aloha · 30/09/2005 23:48

It's when the corner of the upper eyelid closest to the nose covers the corner of the eye. it's a quite distinctive feature in my dh's very English family but is also, of course, normal in people of asian descent.

Enid · 30/09/2005 23:49

right aloha look at the pic of my dd and then I am taking it off

Original poster
geegeesmum · 30/09/2005 23:50

thanks everyone - am off to bed now to dream of folds in eyes - who said being a parent wasnt fun !

OP posts:
aloha · 01/10/2005 22:11

Well, she was very sweet, Enid, but my word, she's aged fast!

misdee · 01/10/2005 22:12

aloha, there is one of my dd2, who also has the folds.

misdee · 01/10/2005 22:13

here

aloha · 01/10/2005 22:39

Oh my, she's yummy! And boy does she look like you in your raver days. Very sweet.

bluebear · 01/10/2005 23:24

My dd has epicanthic folds, flat nasal bridge and was born with club feet - but is totally normal (feet are now corrected) - the folds make her eyes look extra big and gorgeous in my opinion.
Your dd sounds gorgeous (and developmentally normal) too.

SoupDragon · 02/10/2005 09:50

DS2 (4.5) has these folds and the flattish bridge of the nose but nothing else. My eldest brother had them too apparently but they disppeared as he grew older and his nose developed (although no one seems to be able to work out just when he "lost" them!)

beetroot · 02/10/2005 09:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

spagblog · 02/10/2005 11:53

Ahhhh! Is this what my daughter has? It made her eyes look uneven as a baby, but at almost 4 is much less noticeable
can you see her here?

aloha · 02/10/2005 12:09

yes that's it. your baby's eyes look similar to my dd's. Is that her grown up too?She's v pretty!

spagblog · 02/10/2005 12:29

We asked several medical professionals what it was. She had a hard birth and came out looking oriental. Yellow tinged skin with face stretched back with head moulding. DH was momentarily concerned regarding paternity!
We wondered if she was lopsided due to the head moulding, but the MW said that it would all sort itself out as she got older.
Aloha, thanks! We think she is gorgeous, but some of her baby photos are very wonky!