CRI-DU-CHAT

SYMPTOMS

• Cry that is high pitched and sounds like a cat
• Downward slant to the eyes
• Slow growth and low birth weight
• Abnormal shaped ears
• Webbing of the toes and hands

SYMPTOMS (CONTINUED)

• Small head and jaw
• Wide eyes

Cause of Disease
Cri-Du-Chat is caused by a missing piece of chromosome 5.

HOW A PERSON INHERITS THE DISEASE

• You inherit the disease from your parents
• It starts during the development of the sperm or egg

5 INTERESTING FACTS

• 1/50,000 babies are born with the disease
• Children with the disease also have harmful behavior such as biting, scratching, head banging, and hitting
• Girls get the disease more than boys
• Cri-Du-Chat is French for cry of the cat
• Cri-Du-Chat babies are small at birth and have very distinct features

OTHER INFORMATION

• The disease becomes less noticeable as the baby gets older
• Cri-Du-Chat is also known as 5p-syndrome or cry cat syndrome