Down Syndrome Symptoms

General characteristics

Most children with Down syndrome have some of the following physical traits:

• Short stature. A child often grows slowly and, as an adult, is shorter than average.
• Weak muscles (hypotonia) throughout the body. A child may seem to have less strength than other children of the same age. Weak abdominal muscles also make the stomach stick out.
• A short, wide neck with excess fat and skin. Usually, this trait is less obvious as the child gets older.
• Short, stocky arms and legs. Some children also have a wide space between the big toe and second toe.
• A single crease across the center of the palms of the hands. This is called a transverse palmar crease or simian line.

Facial features

Down syndrome often results in distinct facial features, such as:

• Small, low-set ears.
• Irregularly shaped mouth and tongue. The child's tongue may partly stick out. The roof of the mouth (palate) may be narrow and high with a downward curve.
• A nasal bridge that looks pushed in. The nasal bridge is the flat area between the nose and eyes.
• Tissue buildup on the colored part of the eye (iris). These areas are known as Brushfield's spots and do not affect the child's vision.
• Irregular and crooked teeth that often come in late and not in the normal sequence.

(found at http://children.webmd.com/tc/down-syndrome-symptoms)