Turner Syndrome in Children

When you have a baby girl, you look forward to raising her to be the best version of herself. You want her to grow up strong and healthy. That’s why, when she’s diagnosed with Turner syndrome, it can feel like a step in the wrong direction. But, women with Turner syndrome can live long fulfilling lives.

What is Turner syndrome?

Turner syndrome occurs when one of the X chromosomes is missing or partially missing. This occurs randomly during cell division when a parent’s reproductive cells are being formed. Turner syndrome only impacts females and causes various medical and developmental problems — such as short height, failure of the ovaries to develop, and heart defects. While rare, this condition can occur in one out of every 2,500 baby girls.

Symptoms of Turner Syndrome

If only some of the cells have the X condition, then this is known as mosaic Turner syndrome. In these cases, symptoms are fairly mild. Regardless of whether symptoms are mild or severe, someone with Turner syndrome may display or experience:

• Webbing of the skin of the neck
• A low hairline at the back of the head
• Low-set ears
• Unusual eye features, such as drooping eyelids
• Altered bone development, especially the bones of the hands and elbows
• A lack of breast development at the expected age
• Irregular periods or no periods
• A larger than usual number of moles on the skin
• Broad chest with widely spaced nipples
• High narrow roof of the mouth
• Arms that turn outward at the elbows
• Fingernails and toenails that are narrow and turned upward
• Swelling of the hands and feet, especially at birth
• Slightly smaller than average height at birth
• Slowed growth
• Cardiac defects
• Receding or small lower jaw
• Short fingers and toes

Treating Turner Syndrome

Turner syndrome can be diagnosed during pregnancy by DNA screening, but it can also be diagnosed after a child is born using a special blood test that analyzes chromosomes. Turner syndrome shares many symptoms with other conditions, so it can be difficult to achieve the proper diagnoses without proper testing. That’s why it’s important to seek appropriate care if you have concerns about your daughter’s physical or sexual development.

Once diagnosed, your daughter’s treatment plan will depend on how severe her condition is. Some women only have a few signs and symptoms while others may have all of them. Treatment plans may include:

• Growth hormones
• Estrogen replacement therapy
• Cardiac surgery
• Reproductive technologies — to help with starting a family

Complications of Turner Syndrome

While Turner syndrome has no cure, most women go on to live full and healthy lives with regular treatment. However, some complications can occur if your child has a severe condition or if their condition impacts proper body development. This can result in complications such as:

• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Hearing loss
• Vision problems
• Kidney problems
• Autoimmune disorders
• Skeletal problems
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health issues
• Infertility
• Pregnancy complications

Contact Sonas for Home Health Care in Florida

It can be hard to balance your time between work, home, and caring for a child. That’s why our team of skilled professionals at Sonas Home Health Care is here to help. We have been enforcing precautionary measures and following the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for COVID-19 to ensure the safety and health of our clients and employees.

Our home health care services offer support in the comfort of your home. We refer loving and competent nurses to provide customized care for families — from a few hours a day to around-the-clock supervision. Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free in-home assessment. Together we can determine the best plan of action to keep your loved ones happy and healthy.

If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Health Care Services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today at (888) 592-5855.

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.