Syndrome facts for kids

A syndrome is a group of symptoms that often happen together. Imagine a set of clues that always appear at the same time. These clues, or symptoms, might be linked in some way.

Sometimes, we know exactly why these symptoms are connected. Other times, we don't yet understand the link. When we know both how the symptoms are related and what causes them, we usually call it a disease.

What is a Syndrome?

A syndrome is like a collection of signs and feelings that a person experiences. These signs and feelings are called symptoms. For example, a fever, cough, and sore throat are all symptoms. If they often appear together, they might be part of a syndrome.

Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms are changes in your body or mind that show you might be unwell. They can be things you feel, like pain, or things others can see, like a rash.

• Sometimes, the symptoms in a syndrome have a clear cause.
• Other times, the cause is not yet known.
• If we know the cause, it helps doctors understand and treat the condition.

Syndrome vs. Disease

It's helpful to know the difference between a syndrome and a disease:

• A syndrome is a group of symptoms that appear together. We might not always know the exact cause.
• A disease is a condition where we usually know the specific cause. We also understand how the symptoms are connected to that cause.

For example, if you have a runny nose, cough, and sneezing, it could be a cold. A cold is a disease caused by a virus. The symptoms are directly linked to the virus.

Different Kinds of Syndromes

Syndromes can have different reasons for their symptoms.

Syndromes with One Known Cause

Some syndromes are caused by a single, clear reason. A good example is Down syndrome.

• Down syndrome is a condition where a person has an extra copy of a specific chromosome.
• This extra chromosome causes a group of features and health issues that are always seen together.
• Because the cause is known, it helps us understand and support people with Down syndrome.

Syndromes with Many Causes

Other syndromes can have many different causes. Finding the exact cause can be tricky.

• Parkinsonian syndrome is an example. People with this syndrome have symptoms like shaking, slow movement, and stiffness.
• These symptoms can be caused by different things. It could be Parkinson's disease itself, or it could be other conditions or even some medicines.
• Doctors need to do many tests to find the specific cause for each person.

Understanding syndromes helps doctors identify patterns in health. It also helps them figure out what might be happening when someone has a group of symptoms.

See also

In Spanish: Síndrome para niños