Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome

By: Karrey Cyrus

What is Cri-Du-Chat?

• Cri-du-chat is a genetic disorder that is caused by the deletion of genetic material on the small arm of the fifth chromosome.

How is it diagnosed?

• The diagnosis is normally done in the hospital at birth. Usually the doctor or nurse notes the clinical symptoms associated with the condition. They look for the deletion in an chromosome analysis. If the deletion isn’t showing they perform a more detailed type of genetic test called FISH analysis that more than likely reveals the deletion.

What are the symptoms?

• The symptoms are based solely on the size of the deletion. The basic symptoms include a high-pitched cat-like cry, delayed development, mental retardation, distinctive facial features, widely-spaced eyes, small head size, low birth weight, and weak muscle tone. Also difficulty with language, feeding difficulties and delays in walking, hyperactivity, and scoliosis.

How can it be treated?

• Sadly their isn’t a treatment. However, the best treatment is having ongoing support from a team made up of the parents, therapists, medical professionals and educational professionals to help the child achieve his or her highest potential.

This is Jalynn, my niece she has Cri-Du-Chat

This pictures are of her when she was younger.

YouTube video of NISHA

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--lx9c2EAwg/

This is a video of another child with Cri-Du-Chat. It takes you through her life and her progression. To me it is absolutely amazing to see. She is very much like my niece. It is almost unbelievable how much they are alike. This video is important to me because when these children are diagnosed their parents are told they wont be able to do much, such as, walk, talk, dance, communicate, they give them limited hope. This video gives an abundance of hope.

This is Jalynn and her brother

Christian at her Middle

School Graduation 06/12/14

Lol (she’s saying ahh when I said say

cheese) . I truly thank all of you for

viewing this portion of my

informative speech… It means a lot.