CLINICAL-FEATURES OF BLACK-AFRICAN NEONATES WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

Early reports indicated a low prevalence of Down's syndrome (DS) in bl ack African children, More recent research demonstrates an incidence s imilar to, or higher than that reported to occur in First World popula tions. One of the possible reasons for underreporting of DS in Africa, appears to be the lack of recognition of the problem at birth. In thi s study, the musculoskeletal, central nervous system and craniofacial features are documented in 40 black DS neonates and 50 black control n eonates without DS, and the findings are compared with those from a re ported series of 37 caucasian DS and 40 healthy newborns, Musculo. ske letal and central nervous system features were markedly similar in bla ck and caucasian infants, However, the craniofacial features of the Af rican DS newborns approximated more closely those of the normal Africa n neonates, than was the case in the caucasian DS and normal neonates, This finding may partially explain the underreporting of DS in this p opulation, and it emphasizes the need for a clinical awareness of DS a nd for complete clinical examination to identify affected infants.