Dr. Len Leshin is a pediatrician and father of a child with Down syndrome.  He has created a web site on Down syndrome health issues that contains a lot of useful and interesting information.  Please click here to visit his site.




Growth charts are a tool used by pediatrician's and others to monitor a child's growth, and to compare that growth to that of other children.  As people with Down syndrome are usually smaller in stature, separate growth charts have been designed.  Please click here to see these charts.




"Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) need the usual health care screening procedures recommended for the general population. For example, children with DS need the usual immunizations and well child care procedures as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Immunization practices are continually evolving: be certain to use the most up-to-date protocols. Similarly, adults with DS should have health evaluations using the standard accepted practices. However, children with DS have an increased risk of having certain congenital anomalies. Both children and adults may develop certain medical problems that occur in much higher frequency in individuals with DS. Please click here for a checklist of additional tests and evaluations recommended for children and adults with DS. These recommendations should take into consideration available local expertise and referral patterns. They are based on our present level of knowledge and should be modified as new information becomes available. Modern primary health care includes educational and developmental concerns within its domain, and therefore we have included information and recommendations specific to these needs of individuals with DS."
(adapted from Down Syndrome Quarterly)