When kids with Down syndrome get infections, they normally last longer than the average child's would. Defects and problems of the heart and intestinal area may require surgery to fix. They have these heart problems because their heart developed different than the average person, because of their condition. They also may have eye, ear and digestive problems. Along with this it is possible that they are more likely to get infections that affect their lungs and breathing.

A health problem that is crucial to diagnose if a child has it is, the possible development of leukemia which is cancer of the blood. The outcome in treating this Disease is 80% in a child 4 or younger.