Turner Syndrome By: Ann Steinhauser

Turner Syndrome, the effects and symptoms Turner syndrome is a Level 2 genetic disorder that effects the growth and sexual development of many girls. The symptoms of this disease include a decrease in height and delayed start of puberty. Other symptoms can be determined before birth, for example, ultrasound can be used to identify the physical abnormalities before birth.

What happens to a person with it and how is it discovered? Turner syndrome occurs when a pair of sex chromosomes fall short to separate during the creation of the sperm or egg. It is not passed from parent to child because women with turner syndrome are sterile and can’t have children. However, this disease can be diagnosed in two ways, before birth(using ultrasound) or after (physical appearance of baby).

More facts about Turner syndrome This disease affects about 6,000 females in the U.S. One in every 2,000 to 2,500 babies born will get Turner syndrome, with 800 new cases every year. Turner syndrome is named for Dr. Henry Turner, who put together a description of this disease in 1938. The typical height for a female with this disease is 4 ft, 8in.