Guidelines (PDFs)
Cardiac Thyroid Hearing Vision Cervical spine Growth
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People with Down's syndrome on the whole do not have medical problems different from those in the general population. However some medical conditions are overrepresented. Most of these are treatable disorders which, if undiagnosed, impose an additional but preventable burden of secondary handicap.

The DSMIG surveillance guidelines have been developed on the basis of available evidence by a group of clinicians with a special interest in Down's syndrome. They are updated as new research and audit evidence becomes available. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has been supportive of the venture and we have had guidance from the Centre for Evidence Based Child Health.

The guidelines are not a blueprint for Gold Star services. Their purpose is to set out a minimum safe standard of basic medical surveillance which we consider essential for all those with the syndrome in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This we consider to be the identification of cardiac disease, thyroid disorder, hearing impairment and ophthalmic problems and the appropriate monitoring of growth. We have also included information which we hope will increase understanding of the complex issues surrounding cervical spine instability. We are currently producing clinical awareness notes which cover other conditions. These will be posted on this site as they become available.

Guidelines review schedule

Our guidelines are reviewed as and when time allows. The current situation (April 2008) is as follows:

Vision

2nd edition – full evidence based revision (2006) available online

Hearing

Revised version following review by BACDA in Oct 2004 now online

Cardiac

Full evidence based revision (2007) available online

Cervical spine instability

Informal review planned 2008 but unlikely to change appreciably.

Thyroid

Informal review in the light of recent published work suggests no change necessary at the moment

Growth

For review in 2008

Other Publications

Keypoint series: At a glance reference sheets covering the guidelines and other areas.

Background evidence notes: Detail the evidence on which the guidelines are based.

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