Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
September 2008
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
9
Issue:
3

Health issues in persons with Down syndrome

Introduction
The health of the learning disability (LD) population as a whole has, until recently, been of low priority. With the closure of large institutions virtually all persons with LD now live in the community, either in supported community units or with family carers. Persons with Down syndrome (DS), who are the most identifiable individuals with LD, are now regularly accessing all aspects of community health services. Virtually all dentists will, at some time in their career, treat a child or adult with DS. Optimum treatment will only be possible with some awareness of the wider physical and psychiatric problems with which a person with DS may present. This review will highlight some of the commonest forms of physical disorders seen in persons with DS (including obesity, cardiac conditions, ophthalmic and auditory conditions, endocrine dysfunction and musculoskeletal issues) and give a general over-view of associated psychiatric disorders (e.g. dementia, depression and obsessional behaviours). It is good clinical practice that all professionals coming into contact with persons with DS are aware of such health issues. This review will not focus on the phenotypic characteristics of DS (physical or psychological) as these are often an inherent part of the syndrome and not an ‘illness’ as such. Only those problems with clinical implications for dentists will be considered. Readers are referred to several recently published books (Prasher and Smith, 2002; Pueschel and Pueschel, 1992) for more detailed information.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
113
Page End
120
Authors
VP Prasher, M Shaffulia

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. STOP PRESS
  2. 98
  3. 98

  1. editorial.pdf
  2. 99
  3. 99

  1. An audit of the Restorative Dentistry Index of Treatment Need Complexity Assessment
  2. 100
  3. 112

  1. Health issues in persons with Down syndrome
  2. 113
  3. 120

  1. The dental health of adults with learning disabilities – results of a pilot study
  2. 121
  3. 132

  1. Behaviour guidance in dentistry for patients with autism spectrum disorder using a structured visual guide
  2. 136
  3. 140

  1. Unusual behavioural response of a patient with learning disabilities: A case study
  2. 141
  3. 143

  1. Diary Dates
  2. 144
  3. 144

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