The Cri du Chat Syndrome Support Group

The Cri du Chat Syndrome Support Group:

"What is Cri du Chat Syndrome ?

Cri du Chat Syndrome ('Cry of the cat' in French) is a genetic disorder caused by the loss or misplacement of genetic material from the fifth chromosome. It was first identified in 1963 by Professor Lejeune, who also identified the genetic cause of Downs Syndrome. He described the syndrome after the sound that many of the babies and young children make when crying.
This cry, along with some of the other notable features, is so characteristic of the syndrome that a doctor can usually identify the condition before a chromosome analysis has taken place.
As well as the physical features, Cri du Chat causes a varied level of mental handicap. There are a few children who attend mainstream education, but the majority of the children need more specialised education. The long term outlook for children with Cri du Chat is quite good. "