Patau syndrome

Treatment of children with Trisomy 13 is planned on a case-by-case basis. The type of treatment given depends on the patient's individual condition.

Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders (SOFT) -- www.trisomy.org

The syndrome involves multiple abnormalities, many of which are not compatible with life. More than 80% of children with trisomy 13 die in the first month.

Complications begin almost immediately. Most infants with Trisomy 13 have congenital heart disease.

Complications may include:

• Breathing difficulty or lack of breathing (apnea)
• Deafness
• Feeding problems
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Vision problems

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have had a child with Trisomy 13, and you plan to have another child. Genetic counseling can help families understand the condition, the risk of inheriting it, and how to care for the patient.

Images

Polydactyly - an infant's hand

Syndactyly

Review Date: 08/11/2009
Reviewed By: Diana Chambers, MS, EdD, Certified Genetics Counselor (ABMG), Charter Member of the ABGC, University of Tennessee, Memphis. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)