Is Down's syndrome more common in children born to consanguineous couples?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 31-year-old female. I married my cousin and now I am pregnant. We are healthy and do not have any systemic disorders. What are the chances we may deliver a baby with Down’s syndrome? Is Down's syndrome more common in children born to consanguineous couples? Can it be diagnosed within the womb itself?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your case, and I understand your concern. Yes, there are more chances of anomalies like Down's syndrome in consanguineous marriage. It can be detected quickly in antenatal periods only. How many weeks are you pregnant? At 11 to 14 weeks you should do an NT scan and double marker test, which shows if there is any abnormality. Then around 18 to 20 weeks you should do an anomaly scan and triple marker test. Please mention which cousin he is. Is it the mother's side or the father's side?

I hope this has helped you. Thank you.