Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRiskComplicationsTreatmentsFrequently Asked QuestionsHow to Stay Safe
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Risk
Complications
Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Stay Safe
This means that if you or someone who you spend time with has Down syndrome, you need to take precautions to try to avoid exposure to the virus. Down syndrome is considered one of the conditions that put a person at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
If you develop COVID-19 or have been exposed to the condition, you should contact your healthcare provider. Getting medical attention can help prevent complications of the infection.
But keep in mind that even with Down syndrome, becoming infected with the virus does not necessarily mean that you will develop complications—you might not develop symptoms at all. You can have a good recovery after becoming sick from the virus.
Down Syndrome and COVID-19 Risk
According to the CDC, having Down syndrome has not been associated with an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, if you are exposed to the virus, Down syndrome increases your risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Down syndrome puts you at risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms at a younger age—an average of 10 years younger than the general population.
Some factors that increase the risk of becoming sick after exposure to the virus include:
Facial and neck structures: Down syndrome is associated with certain structural features, including a large tongue, enlarged adenoids, a short neck, and diminished muscle tone in the throat muscles. These physical effects of Down syndrome often predispose to respiratory infections.
It can be difficult to adequately cough and clear your throat to clear infectious organisms in the respiratory system.This has been noted with respiratory infections in general, as well as with COVID-19.
Reduced immunity: Down syndrome is associated with diminished immunity. This can predispose a person with Down syndrome to becoming sick with an infection after the type of exposure that might not necessarily make other people sick.
Genetic factors: The chromosomal defect in Down syndrome, a third copy of chromosome 21, leads to an excess of the gene that codes for TMPRSS2, a protein that promotes entry of the virus that causes COVID-19 into the body’s cells—increasing the amount of infectious virus in the body.
Congenital heart defects: Structural heart defects can occur in association with Down syndrome. Heart defects can increase a person’s susceptibility to developing severe cardiac effects due to respiratory problems.
Features of Down Syndrome
Complications of Down Syndrome and COVID-19
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection among people who have Down syndrome are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
It has been found that Down syndrome raises the risk of severe illness and hospitalization and raises the risk of being placed on a ventilator approximately six-fold.
Complications of COVID-19 infection with Down syndrome include:
The risk of death from COVID-19 is significantly elevated among people who have Down syndrome after age 40.
Down Syndrome Treatments and COVID-19
In general, thetreatments used to manage Down syndromeare symptomatic, and they do not have an impact on COVID-19. For example, if you have high blood sugar or high cholesterol, which can occur more commonly with Down syndrome, you would need medication to manage these conditions.
If you are hospitalized with a COVID-19 infection, you might be treated with medications, including Veklury (remdesivir) and Olumiant (baricitinib), which are used for reducing the impact of the infection.
Additionally, you might need one or more of the following:
Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine if I have Down syndrome?
Yes, you can safely be vaccinated for COVID-19 if you have Down syndrome. Down syndrome is not associated with any contraindications or risks of complications with the vaccine.
ACOVID-19 vaccineis available to everyone 6 months of age and older. People who have already been vaccinated are recommended to get an updated booster that protects against the strains currently in circulation. A booster shot is recommended two months after receiving a primary COVID-19 vaccination series or after the last booster dose.
Should I go to a healthcare provider if I feel sick?
If you start to develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact your healthcare provider’s office. They will direct you regarding the next steps, including a telehealth visit, an in-person visit, at-home medication, or admission to the hospital.
Can I go to work?
If you have a job, you might be able to go in person if your workplace has opened and is taking appropriate precautions. If there is a risk of exposure, it could be unsafe for you. Discuss the situation with your healthcare provider and your supervisors at work. And you might be able to do some or all of your work remotely until the risk of infection is reduced.
If you have Down syndrome, it is important that you avoid exposure to people who might be carrying the virus since you are at extra risk of severe complications if you are exposed.Other preventative actions include:
Many people who have Down syndrome live in assisted care homes or get help from professional caregivers who come to the family’s home. Exposure to more people could increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
This means that you might have had a major change in your routine since the pandemic started—such as not being able to have visitors or not getting in-person help in your own family home from your medical caregiver. These issues can pose challenges.
Some considerations:
A Word From Verywell
Children and adults who have Down syndrome are able to have many enjoyable experiences and achieve many of their goals. If you or your loved one has Down syndrome, you have already been making adjustments to optimize your health throughout your whole life.
The COVID-19 pandemic adds more considerations to your usual routine. Staying safe during the pandemic can help you avoid long-lasting health complications of the virus, including the potentially life-threatening effects of the infection.
Learn everything you can about staying safe. Don’t forget that you have a priority when it comes to getting the vaccine and getting help for any health concerns you have.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed. As new research becomes available, we’ll update this article. For the latest on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19.People with certain medical conditions.Emami A, Javanmardi F, Akbari A, Asadi-Pooya AA.COVID-19 in patients with Down syndrome.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb 1:1–4. doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05091-8De Toma I, Dierssen M.Network analysis of Down syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 identifies risk and protective factors for COVID-19.Sci Rep.2021 Jan 21;11(1):1930. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81451-wMalle L, Gao C, Hur C, et al.Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 have more severe disease.Genet Med. 2020 Oct 16. doi:10.1038/s41436-020-01004-wAltable M, de la Serna JM.Down’s syndrome and COVID-19: risk or protection factor against infection? A molecular and genetic approach.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb;42(2):407-413. doi:10.1007/s10072-020-04880-xHüls A, Costa ACS, Dierssen M, et. al.An international survey on the impact of COVID-19 in individuals with Down syndrome.medRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Nov 5:2020.11.03.20225359. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.03.20225359Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations are Now Available.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Protect Yourself & Others.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19.People with certain medical conditions.Emami A, Javanmardi F, Akbari A, Asadi-Pooya AA.COVID-19 in patients with Down syndrome.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb 1:1–4. doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05091-8De Toma I, Dierssen M.Network analysis of Down syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 identifies risk and protective factors for COVID-19.Sci Rep.2021 Jan 21;11(1):1930. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81451-wMalle L, Gao C, Hur C, et al.Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 have more severe disease.Genet Med. 2020 Oct 16. doi:10.1038/s41436-020-01004-wAltable M, de la Serna JM.Down’s syndrome and COVID-19: risk or protection factor against infection? A molecular and genetic approach.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb;42(2):407-413. doi:10.1007/s10072-020-04880-xHüls A, Costa ACS, Dierssen M, et. al.An international survey on the impact of COVID-19 in individuals with Down syndrome.medRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Nov 5:2020.11.03.20225359. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.03.20225359Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations are Now Available.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Protect Yourself & Others.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19.People with certain medical conditions.Emami A, Javanmardi F, Akbari A, Asadi-Pooya AA.COVID-19 in patients with Down syndrome.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb 1:1–4. doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05091-8De Toma I, Dierssen M.Network analysis of Down syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 identifies risk and protective factors for COVID-19.Sci Rep.2021 Jan 21;11(1):1930. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81451-wMalle L, Gao C, Hur C, et al.Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 have more severe disease.Genet Med. 2020 Oct 16. doi:10.1038/s41436-020-01004-wAltable M, de la Serna JM.Down’s syndrome and COVID-19: risk or protection factor against infection? A molecular and genetic approach.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb;42(2):407-413. doi:10.1007/s10072-020-04880-xHüls A, Costa ACS, Dierssen M, et. al.An international survey on the impact of COVID-19 in individuals with Down syndrome.medRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Nov 5:2020.11.03.20225359. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.03.20225359Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations are Now Available.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Protect Yourself & Others.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19.People with certain medical conditions.
Emami A, Javanmardi F, Akbari A, Asadi-Pooya AA.COVID-19 in patients with Down syndrome.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb 1:1–4. doi:10.1007/s10072-021-05091-8
De Toma I, Dierssen M.Network analysis of Down syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 identifies risk and protective factors for COVID-19.Sci Rep.2021 Jan 21;11(1):1930. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81451-w
Malle L, Gao C, Hur C, et al.Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 have more severe disease.Genet Med. 2020 Oct 16. doi:10.1038/s41436-020-01004-w
Altable M, de la Serna JM.Down’s syndrome and COVID-19: risk or protection factor against infection? A molecular and genetic approach.Neurol Sci.2021 Feb;42(2):407-413. doi:10.1007/s10072-020-04880-x
Hüls A, Costa ACS, Dierssen M, et. al.An international survey on the impact of COVID-19 in individuals with Down syndrome.medRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Nov 5:2020.11.03.20225359. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.03.20225359
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations are Now Available.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Protect Yourself & Others.
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