Turner Syndrome

By Jayla Harris

Turner syndrome is a disorder caused by the

loss of genetic material from one of the sex chromosomes.

Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal condition that describes girls and women with common features that are caused by complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome.

Named after Dr. Henry Turner He was one of the first to describe its features

in the 1930s

What is it?

Can only occur in females 1 out of every 2,500 female births Result of problems with the chromosomes

Important info.

Most girls are born with two X chromosomes Females with TS are missing one. This causes for many unusual body features in the females body.

What exactly is the problem?

Short stature a "webbed" neck (extra folds of skin extending from

the tops of the shoulders to the sides of the neck) a low hairline at the back of the neck drooping of the eyelids differently shaped ears that are set lower on the sides

of the head than usual abnormal bone development (especially the bones of

the hands and elbows) a larger than usual number of moles on the skin edema or extra fluid in the hands and feet

Physical Feautures

There is no specific cure for Turner Syndrome. There are only treatments to better the

condition Growth hormone treatment ( improves growth,

helps girls reach a normal height) Estrogen Replacement ( helps girls develop

physical changes of puberty) In vitro fertilization ( helps some women with

turner syndrome become pregnant)

Medical Care

How do you identify Turner Syndrome? Females with Turner syndrome are usually diagnosed either at birth or around the time they might be expected to go through puberty. A karyotype test is used. The test counts the number of chromosomes and can identify any that are abnormally shaped or have missing pieces.

Diagnosis

While Turner syndrome is genetic in that it

involves the loss or abnormal expression of X-chromosome genes, it is not usually hereditary in the conventional sense.

one exception to this observation are families with a X-chromosome deletion which is stable enough to be passed down through the generations and which also allows fertility.

Is it hereditary?

Turner syndrome affects all races, nationalities

and regions of the world equally, and parents who have produced many unaffected children may still have a child with Turner syndrome. There are no known toxins or environmental hazards that increase the chances of Turner syndrome.

In other words, any female can get TS.

Who can get TS?

What it looks like ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PftPlnJtRE8