Treatment and Management
When diagnosing an infant for Cri Du Chat, it is usually based on the distinctive cry and the physical problems that match the disorder. Cri Du Chat can be detected early before birth through testing of missing parts of Chromosome 5 in amniotic fluid or chorionic villi samples.
Although there is no specific treatment, families with a child diagnosed with Cri Du Chat can seek Genetic testing, or even Genetic counseling, in which parents are educated in managing and planning their child's future as well as advised of the risks. As children grow older, problems may be treated through therapists and speech and sound therapy. Other problems, such as Cardiac abnormalities are treated through surgery.
There is no known prevention for Cri Du Chat, but Genetic counseling is recommended for couples with a known history of the disorder.
Support groups are available to help families who have children with Cri Du Chat:
www.fivepminus.org
www.criduchat.org.uk
www.dailystrength.org/c/Cri-Du-Chat-Syndrome/support-group