COVID-19 and Down’s Syndrome

Forwarded from the DSA:

Many of you have asked whether people who have Down’s syndrome are more vulnerable to coronavirus. In addition to the advice already published by the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, our colleague Dr Brian Skotko’s updated advice is very helpful.
Please see below.
Best wishes,
Gwen

Are people with Down Syndrome more vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019)?

The simple answer is that the majority of people with Down syndrome are NOT considered immunocompromised patients. The nuanced answer is that people with Down Syndrome can have slight disturbances in their immune system, making them more vulnerable to infections. We recommend using your loved one’s ability to handle past infections/viruses as a good barometer of his/her immune system and how they might respond, should they become infected with COVID-19. The CDC offers recommendations on what all families should be doing right now. Some people with Down Syndrome who have active, untreated, or chronic health conditions might be in a “high-risk” category, which means that they may experience more severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19. These would include patients with Down Syndrome who are actively being treated for leukemia or other cancers, have untreated heart conditions, chronic, untreated respiratory diseases, and poorly controlled diabetes. The CDC has also indicated that older persons, in general, are more vulnerable to the virus. If your loved one with Down Syndrome falls into one of these “high-risk” categories, the CDC offers recommendations on what you can be doing right now.

For more information, this article from Massachusetts General Hospital may be helpful.