Anthropometric Characterization of Down Syndrome Phenotypes in Children Aged 2- 18 years; A Case-Control Studies in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Down syndrome (DS) or Trisomy 21 is the most prevalent human chromosomal disorder with impact on multiple bodily systems. DS has been associated with a range of phenotypic effects, including altered physical characteristics. This study determined the anthropometric characteristics of children with Down syndrome in the tertiary health institutions in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of sixty (60) participants (children), between the ages of 2-18 years, were recruited for the study consisting of thirty (30) children with DS cases and thirty (30) normal (control; non-DS) children. All the participants were categorized into three age groups: 2-5 years, 6-10 years, and >10 years. Several anthropometric measurements were obtained from the participants which included head, body, hand and foot parameters, and some indices. Measured anthropometric characteristics were compared to the control group, and with respect to age categories. Results revealed significant (p

Key Words: Anthropometric indices, Down Syndrome, Hand and foot dimensions, Morphological facial height, Stature