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Edwards syndrome
Edwards syndrome (also called Trisomy 18, trisomy E, and trisomy 16–18) is a chromosomal condition associated with the presences of an extra copy of chromosome 18. It is the second most common trisomy, after trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). Humans normally have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chromosomes are numbered 1–22, and the 23rd pair is composed of either an X or Y chromosome (the sex chromosomes). Every human inherits one set of 23 chromosomes from each parent. Periodically, a genetic error will occur during egg or sperm cell formation. A child conceived with such an egg or sperm cell, may inherit an incorrect number of chromosomes. In the case of Edwards syndrome, the child inherits three (trisomy), rather than two, copies of chromosome 18. The syndrome occurs 1 in every 3,000 live and stillborn births, at the same time 80 percent of those are female. Edwards syndrome is lethal, resulting with most babies dying before birth. Of the very few who do make it to birth, 20–30 percent die within one month. However, a very small number of babies (less than 10 percent) live at least one year. Affected individuals can have heart defects and abnormalities to other organs that develop before birth.

The History
The history of Edwards Syndrome came from a man named John Hilton Edwards. He learned about chromosomes from Charles Ford and David Harnden at Harwell. Mr. Edwards' specialty was Pediatrics. He was spending a morning a month at the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham when he recognized a potential chromosomal aberration in a newborn. He called it “trisomy, type unknown.” In 1960, Edwards obtained postmortem tissues and delivered them to Harwell, where Harnden discovered trisomy 18, or Edwards syndrome, as it came to be known.

Causes and symptoms
The age of a mother can be a risk factor of the development of Edwards Syndrome. Women who are older than their early thirties are at risk of conceiving a child with Trisomy 18, although it can occur in younger women as well. The physical appearance of the child at birth will suggest the diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Nearly all children born with Edwards' syndrome appear weak and fragile, and are often underweight. Their head is unusually small, ears are low-set and malformed, the mouth and jaw are small. micrognathia The child can have a cleft lip or cleft palate. Occasionally, the hands are clenched into fists, with the second and fifth fingers overlapping the third and fourth fingers. The child may have clubfeet, and toes may be webbed or fused. Countless problems involving the internal organs may be present. Malformation often occur in the lungs and diaphragm the muscle that controls breathing. Blood vessel malformations are common. Assortment types of congenital heart disease including ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septic defect (ASD), or patent ductus arterious (PDA), may be present. The baby may have an umbilical or inguinal hernia, malformed kidneys, and abnormalities of the urogenital system, including undescended testicles in a male child cryptochordism.

Diagnosis
Edwards syndrome can be detected before birth. Edwards' syndrome at birth can be diagnosed by the physical deformity characteristic to the syndrome. Physical examination of the baby may show arched type finger print patterns, while an x-ray may reveal a short breast bone sternum. Different diagnosis procedures are taken through karyotyping, which involves drawing the baby's blood from a microscopic examination of the chromosomes. Using special stains and microscopy, individual chromosomes are identified, and the presence of an extra chromosome 18 is revealed. All pregnant women older than 35, who have a family history of genetic abnormalities, have previously conceived a child with a genetic abnormality, or have suffered earlier miscarriages, may undergo tests to determine whether the child carries genetic abnormalities. Additionally, pregnant women carrying a child with Edwards' syndrome can have an unusually large uterus during pregnancy, because of the presence of extra amniotic fluid, which is called polyhydramnios.