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__**Cri - du - chat**__
Cri-du-chat is a rare disorder that is caused by a missing piece of chromosome 5. The name of the disease is based on the high pitched cry of an infant with the syndrome, which resembles the cry of a cat.

Many symptoms are shown with the disease such as:
 * __Symptoms__ **
 * ====High pitched cry of a cat====
 * ==== Downward slanting of the eyes ====
 * Low birth weight
 * ====Slow growth====
 * ====Small jaw and head====
 * ==== Mental Retardation ====
 * ====Slightly webbed fingers and toes====
 * ====Single line on palm of hand[[image:criduchat.gif width="142" height="306" align="right"]]====
 * ====Wide set eyes====

__**Treatment and Side Effects**__
====Cri-du-chat is incurable, but some of the symptoms can be treated. Most doctors suggest therapy to help the child improve their language and motor skills so they can develop as normally as possible.  Behavior modification programs are suggested to manage the children's hyperactivity, frustration and short attention span. Cri-du-chat syndrome has side effects such as upper respiratory tract infections and otitis media,which need to be treated accordingly. The syndrome can also cause heart problems, bone displacement, and kidney failure resulting in surgery. ====

__**Prevention and Control **__
====Cri-du-chat syndrome usually occurs randomly when the egg is being fertilized by the sperm, instead of being inherited like most diseases, therefore it is impossible to prevent. If Cri-du-chat syndrome runs in your family, genetic counselling would be helpful for future parents. Genetic Counseling would allow the parents to see if they have any chromosome abnormalities that could lead to their child having Cri-du-chat syndrome. ====

**__Chromosome 5__**
====Cri-du-chat syndrome is cause by a deletion of the short end of chromosome 5. The size of the deletion varies among patients with the disease. Studies have shown that the lager the deletion in chromosome 5, the more severe the disease is, due to the loss of more genetic information.====

__**Inheritances**__
====90% of Cri-du-chat cases occur randomly, but 10% of cases can be from an inherited chromosome abnormality from a parent. If the parent has the abnormality called balanced translocation, they usually don't have Cri-du-chat syndrome or any other health problems. When the balanced translocation is passed down to the child, it can become unbalanced, causing extra or missing genetic information. Unbalanced translocation can result in a deletion of chromosome 5, leading to Cri-du-chat syndrome.====

**__Work Cited__**

 * ====Genetic Science Learning Center. "Cri-du-Chat Syndrome." Learn.Genetics 10 February 2013 ====
 * . "Cri-du-chat syndrome." Genetics Home Reference . Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, n.d. Web. 10 Feb 2013. .
 * . "CRI-DU-CHAT SYNDROME." the new york times . A.D.A.M., Inc., 4 8 2011. Web. 10 Feb 2013. .
 * . "Cri Du Chat Syndrome." collective social services . Copyright © 2010 Collective Social Services, n.d. Web. 10 Feb 2013. .