Down's syndrome in children is not a disease and it can be managed with awareness and familial compassion, said experts at a discussion yesterday.

They said children with the syndrome are not dull, they are just different. Speakers also added that the children with Down syndrome can act and learn like other children if given proper care and nutrition.

Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital along with AMDA Bangladesh and Cardiff International School Dhaka organised the discussion on the school premises in observance of World Down Syndrome Day, said a press release.

Prof Sarder A Nayeem, chairman of the hospital, said Down syndrome can be managed with care, nutrition and speech and physical therapy.

On average, one in every 800 children is born with the syndrome and there are two lakh children with this syndrome in Bangladesh.

Growth of a child with Down syndrome is slower than other children. These kids are also slower in learning to sit, crawl, walk and speak.

A child with Down syndrome has 47 chromosomes in their cells, one more than the usual 46. Usually, a person gets 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 chromosomes from the father and they pair up. A child with Down syndrome has one extra chromosome.

Psychiatrist Dr Mohit Kamal, among others, spoke on the occasion.