Turner syndrome is a condition that alters development in females, resulting from a missing or incomplete sex chromosome. This condition may be diagnosed during infancy or early childhood and can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems such as failure to begin puberty, short stature, infertility, heart defects, and certain learning disabilities.
Turner syndrome occurs in about 1 in 2,500 female births worldwide but is common among pregnancies that do not survive to terms such as miscarriages and stillbirths.
The symptoms of Turner syndrome at birth and during infancy vary significantly. These include:
• Low set ears
• Wide neck
• Low hairline at the back of the head
• Drooping eyelids
• Short toes and fingers
• Delayed growth
• Sensitivity to noise
• Fingernails turned upward
• Broad chest and widely spaced nipples
• Swelling of the feet and hands especially at birth
• Arms that turn outward at the elbows
• Slightly smaller than average height at birth
• Small or receding lower jaw
The symptoms of Turner syndrome in older girls, adolescents, and young women include:
• No growth spurts at expected times in childhood
• An early end to menstrual cycles not due to pregnancy
• Sexual development that seizes
• Short stature with an adult height of about 8 inches (20 centimeters) or less
• Having difficulty in social situations such as trouble understanding other people's reactions or emotions
• Learning disabilities mainly with learning that involves spatial concepts or math, through intelligence is generally normal
• Failure to begin sexual changes expected during puberty which could be due to ovarian failure that may have occurred by birth or during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood
The signs and symptoms of Turner syndrome aren't specific to this disorder and hence it's important to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Contact your doctor if you believe your daughter or loved one shows signs or symptoms of Turner syndrome.
