Edward's+syndrome


 * Edward's syndrome Ching Yeung Lam**

Edward's syndrome, or Trisomy 18, is a type of genetic disorder. It is caused when a baby has an extra part or whole of the eighteenth chromosome, and it is named after John H. Edwards who first found it in 1960. The chances of having it is one in six thousand, but the chances increases as the mother's age increases. Most of them die in the fetal stage, and only about 3% survive to birth. Of all the ones that are born, 50% die within 2 months, 5-10% live to one year, and only 1% live to the age of ten. The median lifespan is 5-15 days! Usually these unlucky persons die of apnea and heart abnormalities. It usually occurs in female offspring. Babies with Edward's syndrome has many symptoms: their heads are small compared to their body, and the back of their heads stick out. They seem fragile, week, and many are underweight.They also have micrognathia, which means that their mouth and jaws are smaller than normal. Their toes can be fused or webbed, too. They may also have cleft palate or cleft lip. The babies may have clubfeet, which is deformed feet the makes them unable to place the sole on ground. They often clench their fists when born, and the second and fifth finger covers the third and fourth finger. Overall, this is a terrible disease, with no cure and a lifespan counted in months, or even days. Hopefully, humans will quickly find a cure to this distressing disease.