Also known as 5p-minus Syndrome or Lejeune’s Syndrome, Cri Du Chat is a rare genetic disorder in which a variable part of chromosome 5 is missing or deleted. The disorder was first described by Dr. Jerome Lejeune in 1963, who named it Cri Du Chat, or cry of the cat, based on the characteristic, cat-like cry of affected children.
Cri du Chat Awareness Week is observed the first full week of May.
Common symptoms of Cri Du Chat include:
Children affected with Cri Du Chat benefit from early intervention strategies, including physical therapy speech therapy, special services and other medical, social and/or vocational services.
Cri du Chat Syndrome is also called 5p- Syndrome, 5p Minus Syndrome or 5p Deletion Syndrome. The “5” meaning the fifth chromosome; the “p” meaning the p arm (short arm) of the chromosome (above the centromere); and the “-“or “minus” referring to the deletion that occurs.
Sources:
1The 5P- Society
2National Organization for Rare Disorders
