Cat meow syndrome is a rare congenital disease, diagnosed quite recently (in the 60s). In her, children are born with a very characteristic cry, reminiscent of the meow of a feline and a series of very specific physical and psychological characteristics. Today in Supercurioso we invite you to delve into the so-called syndrome of Cri Du Chat.
Although there is no specific treatment, over the years new techniques have been discovered to help the integration of affected individuals into society, as well as to help them in their personal and psychological development. We’ll see now what this rare disease consists of, its characteristics and possible treatments to consider.
What is cat meow syndrome?
In the mid-1960s, at a convention in Paris, Dr. Jerome Lejeune and his collaborators diagnosed, for the first time in three babies, this disease (also known as Lejeune’s syndrome)
Cat meow syndrome gets its name from the characteristic crying of children who suffer from it and that can remind the meow of a cat. This syndrome is a very rare congenital disease (formed during pregnancy). It affects one child in 20,000-50,000 and has a higher incidence in girls.
syndrome Cri Du Chat appears after the total or partial deletion of chromosome 5. With the breakage of the chromosome, the genetic information it contains is lost. Therefore, the greater the breakage of the chromosome, the greater the loss of information and the greater the number of alterations.
It is believed that it first appears during conception, when the sperm or egg lose the chromosome. In a smaller percentage, this syndrome may be due to one of the parents be the carrier.
1. Characteristics of the syndrome Cri Du Chat
All children born with cat meow syndrome have a number of common features. In addition to having the characteristic sharp cry and so similar to that of a cat, they have a lower average weight than the rest of the children at birth (below 2.5 kg).
Likewise, they present other characteristics such as microcephaly and other physical characteristics, such as a round face, wide-set eyes, or a wide bridge of the nose. They also present, in all cases, intellectual disability, which, in addition, entails a lesser development of the psychomotor system.
As we have mentioned, all these characteristics will depend on the breakage of the chromosome and its consequent loss of information, which will be more serious the more severe the breakage.
In relation to the psychological characteristics of children suffering from cat meow syndrome, it is known that they present deficiencies in psychomotricity, although they are able to walk or control their sphincters without difficulty.
As they grow older, people with Down syndrome Cri Du Chat they live a delay of the intellectual capacities every time greater. However, it must be taken into account that there is no loss of the intellectual capacities that they have learned, that they maintain and that can lead to other more complex ones.
In the field of language, children with this syndrome have a severe communication delay, but they will be able to build simple sentences with which to make themselves understood at basic levels. The life expectancy of those affected by cat meow syndrome is quite reduced, since it tends to be towards fifty years.
2. Symptoms of cat meow syndrome
The first thing we need to know about it is that cat meow syndrome cannot be diagnosed before birth. They are the symptoms that the child presents, those that alert about the presence of it. The definitive diagnosis is produced through a genetic study.
- High-pitched cry that may sound like a cat.
- Downward tilt of the eyes.
- Epicanthus, an additional fold of skin over the inner corner of the eye.
- Low birth weight and slow growth.
- Low set or abnormally shaped ears.
- Hearing loss.
- Heart defects.
- Intellectual disability.
3. Treatment of the syndrome Cri Du Chat
Although there is no definitive treatment to treat cat meowing syndrome, it must be taken into account that other abilities are highly valued, such as curiosity about what is new, interest in telling what has been learned or social relationships on the part of the child that, although they are not decisive, they do help to obtain better results or to determine the way in which the treatment will be carried out.
It should also be borne in mind that children with the syndrome Cri Du Chat they need constant attention due to their limited attention span. Despite this constant supervision, you can get them to have a good degree of independence.
Although there is no definitive treatment, there have been many improvements since the 1980s, when it was customary to lock up those affected by this syndrome in institutions with others affected by severe mental retardation. Over time it has been shown that the integration of those affected in society is much more positive for their development.
Likewise, when proposing a treatment, the behavior of those affected must also be taken into account, which, although it can be sweet and peaceful, sometimes also It presents disruptions such as scratching a partner, fear of certain objects or even self-injury.
In short, the treatment of cat meow syndrome will depend a lot on the parents’ love for their child, since it is highly recommended that the child be surrounded by love, concern to integrate him into his environment, education and, above all, information to learn more about this syndrome and to be able to improve the lives of those affected and those around them.
And you, Did you know the rare syndrome of Cri Du Chat? Did you know that it is recognized by a strange sound similar to that of a real cat? Undoubtedly, the human body is full of oddities, and having an optimal state of health is something to be thankful for.
If this topic has caught your attention, we invite you to read a little more about the strangest Mental Illnesses, as well as the most interesting curiosities of the human body. We are in a next topic supercurious.