Turner Syndrome Signs and Symptoms

Turner syndrome is a health condition that affects females and involves the partial or complete absence of an X chromosome. There are various signs and symptoms of Turner syndrome that can present as a result of the missing sex chromosome.

Some of these may be evident before birth and during childhood years, but the diagnosis is sometimes delayed until adulthood, particularly for patients with milder symptoms.

Prenatal Signs

There may be some signs of Turner syndrome in the prenatal ultrasound, before the baby is born. These signs may include abnormal structure or function of the heart and kidneys, or a collection of fluid on the back of the neck or other areas of the body.

Signs in Infancy

There are several physical features that may be evident in early years of life such as:

• Thick neck tissue
• Receding lower jaw and high palate
• Low-set ears and low rear hairline
• Broad chest with wide-set nipples
• Short fingers with narrow nails
• Outward-turning elbows
• Delayed growth

Infants are more likely to have lymphedema (swollen hands and feet) and be under average height at birth.

Childhood

The first three years of life for a girl with Turner syndrome are relatively normal, but the growth may slow down after this point.

Although intelligence is usually considered to be normal, they may have learning disabilities in spatial concepts and mathematics. It is also common to have difficulty interacting with others and understanding emotions in social situations.

Girls with Turner syndrome also typically go through a phase of physical activity, restlessness, impulsive actions with no sense of danger, and a short attention span. Hyperactivity usually begins at a young age but becomes more problematic in a school setting when the girl may have difficulty settling in class. These symptoms tend to subside in the adolescence years.

Adolescence

At the age of puberty (8-14 years), an affected girl will not have the normal growth spurt, and is usually of short stature, with respect to her parents, for this reason.

The majority of girls with Turner syndrome have insufficient sex hormone production in their ovaries, which affect the sexual changes that usually occur at the age of puberty. This can lead to

• Underdeveloped breast tissue
• Incomplete sexual development
• Absence of menstrual periods
• Sudden halt to sexual development and menstrual periods
• Infertility

Approximately 1 in 10 girls with Turner syndrome naturally experience some physical changes usually expected at the age of puberty without treatment.

Signs and Symptoms in Women

Women with Turner syndrome have a short stature, approximately 20 cm less than expected for the individual, according to the height of her parents. This difference can often be reduced by about 5 cm with hormonal treatment at the age of puberty.

Although the ovaries and production of sex hormones are greatly altered in women with Turner syndrome, the structure and development of the vagina is normal. This allows them to engage in sexual activities if desired, although they are usually infertile and unable to conceive a child without treatment.

Associated Symptoms and Complications

Women with Turner syndrome are more likely to be affected by some other health conditions such as:

• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Hypothyroidism
• Hypertension
• Osteoporosis
• Scoliosis
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Lymphedema
• Digestive bleeding
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Heart murmur due to narrow aorta and hypertension

References

• http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Turners-syndrome/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
• https://www.genome.gov/19519119/learning-about-turner-syndrome/
• http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/turner-syndrome/
• http://patient.info/doctor/turner-syndrome-pro
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/turner-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20032572