All you need to know about your child's condition
Why does it occur?
Everyone's genetic material, or DNA, is contained in tiny structures called chromosomes that are found inside their cells. A person's gender is determined by their sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes, or XX. Most males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, or XY. Males with Klinefelter syndrome are born with cells that have an extra X chromosome, or XXY.
Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic condition, meaning people are born with it. Instead, Klinefelter syndrome occurs randomly due to an error in cell division when a parent's reproductive cells are being formed. If one of these defective cells contributes to a successful pregnancy, the baby will have the XXY condition in some or all of his cells. Some boys will even have more than two X chromosomes, which increases the risk of severe symptoms and other health concerns.
The presence of an extra X chromosome in males most often occurs when the genetic material in the egg splits unevenly. But it can also occur when the genetic material in the sperm splits unevenly. Even though Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic disorder, it is not passed down through families. So, parents who have a child with Klinefelter syndrome are not any more likely than other couples to have another child with the condition. This, fortunately, lessens the chances of Klinefelter Syndrome occurring because of its completely random occurrence due to non-disjunction.
How often does it occur?
Klinefelter syndrome affects 1 in 500 to 1,000 newborn males. Most variants of Klinefelter syndrome are much rarer, occurring in 1 in 50,000 or fewer newborns.
Researchers suspect that Klinefelter syndrome is underdiagnosed because the condition may not be identified in people with mild signs and symptoms. Additionally, the features of the condition vary and overlap significantly with those of other conditions.
Can this condition be determined by genetic testing?
This condition can not be determined by genetic testing because it happens randomly in non-disjunction. Because they often don't appear any different from anyone else, many males with the XXY chromosome arrangement probably never learn of their extra chromosome. However, if a Klinefelter diagnosis is to be made, chances are greatest that it will be made at one of the following times in life:
Everyone's genetic material, or DNA, is contained in tiny structures called chromosomes that are found inside their cells. A person's gender is determined by their sex chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes, or XX. Most males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, or XY. Males with Klinefelter syndrome are born with cells that have an extra X chromosome, or XXY.
Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic condition, meaning people are born with it. Instead, Klinefelter syndrome occurs randomly due to an error in cell division when a parent's reproductive cells are being formed. If one of these defective cells contributes to a successful pregnancy, the baby will have the XXY condition in some or all of his cells. Some boys will even have more than two X chromosomes, which increases the risk of severe symptoms and other health concerns.
The presence of an extra X chromosome in males most often occurs when the genetic material in the egg splits unevenly. But it can also occur when the genetic material in the sperm splits unevenly. Even though Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic disorder, it is not passed down through families. So, parents who have a child with Klinefelter syndrome are not any more likely than other couples to have another child with the condition. This, fortunately, lessens the chances of Klinefelter Syndrome occurring because of its completely random occurrence due to non-disjunction.
How often does it occur?
Klinefelter syndrome affects 1 in 500 to 1,000 newborn males. Most variants of Klinefelter syndrome are much rarer, occurring in 1 in 50,000 or fewer newborns.
Researchers suspect that Klinefelter syndrome is underdiagnosed because the condition may not be identified in people with mild signs and symptoms. Additionally, the features of the condition vary and overlap significantly with those of other conditions.
Can this condition be determined by genetic testing?
This condition can not be determined by genetic testing because it happens randomly in non-disjunction. Because they often don't appear any different from anyone else, many males with the XXY chromosome arrangement probably never learn of their extra chromosome. However, if a Klinefelter diagnosis is to be made, chances are greatest that it will be made at one of the following times in life:
- Before or shortly after birth
- Early childhood
- Adolescence
- Adulthood.
For the physical and mental description of Klinefelter please visit my " About my child " column where I describe my child with Klinefelter Syndrome. An overview of these symptoms are:
-Smaller testes and penis -Breast growth (about one-third of teens with KS have breast growth) -Less facial and body hair -Reduced muscle tone -Narrower shoulders and wider hips -Weaker bones, greater risk for bone fractures -Decreased sexual interest -Lower energy -Reduced sperm production