Triple X syndrome usually results from an error in the formation of a mother's egg cell or a father's sperm cell. Sometimes, triple X syndrome occurs as a result of an error early in the embryo's development.
Many women with triple X syndrome have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. In other cases, symptoms may be more pronounced — possibly including developmental delays.
Treatment for triple X syndrome depends on which symptoms, if any, your daughter exhibits and their severity.
Symptoms of Triple X Syndrome
Triple X syndrome may not cause any signs or symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Tall stature
- Small head (microcephaly)
- Vertical skinfolds that may cover the inner corners of the eyes (epicanthal folds)
- Delayed development of certain motor skills, speech and language
- Learning disabilities, such as dyslexia
- Weak muscle tone
Causes of Tripel X Syndrome
Most people have 46 chromosomes, occurring in 23 pairs. These chromosomes contain genes, which carry instructions that determine everything from your height to your eye color.
One of these chromosome pairs determines your sex. You receive one sex chromosome from your mother and another from your father. Your mother can give you only an X chromosome, but your father can pass on an X or a Y chromosome. If you receive an X chromosome from your father, the XX pair makes you genetically a female. If you receive a Y chromosome from your father, then your XY pair means you're genetically a male.
Females with triple X syndrome have a third X chromosome. Although this condition is genetic, it's typically not inherited. Instead, what usually happens is that either the mother's egg cell or the father's sperm cell has not formed correctly, resulting in an extra X chromosome. This random error in egg or sperm cell division is called nondisjunction. Occasionally, the extra chromosome doesn't appear until early in the development of the embryo. If this is the case, then the female is said to have a mosaic form of triple X syndrome.
When the cause is a malformed egg cell or sperm cell, as is usually the case, all the body's cells have the extra chromosome. In the mosaic form, only some of the body's cells have the third X chromosome. Because only some cells contain the extra X chromosome, females with the mosaic form of triple X syndrome may have less severe symptoms.
Triple X syndrome is also called trisomy X, triplo X syndrome and XXX syndrome. It's also referred to as 47,XXX syndrome because of the existence of a 47th chromosome, which is the extra X chromosome.
Treatment and Medication
If your daughter has triple X syndrome, treatment is based on her symptoms, if any are present. For instance, if she has a learning disability from the triple X, she would require the same counseling as anyone else with that learning disability. This counseling usually involves teaching new techniques and strategies for learning, as well as providing motivation and help with using these tips in daily life.
If your daughter has been diagnosed with triple X syndrome, her doctor may recommend periodic screenings throughout childhood to make sure that any developmental delays or learning disabilities that may occur receive prompt treatment.
Because people with triple X syndrome may be more susceptible to stress, it's important to make sure your daughter has a supportive environment as well. Psychological counseling may help, both by teaching you and your family useful methods of demonstrating love and encouragement, and by discouraging behaviors that you might not realize are negative.
The chromosome change that causes triple X syndrome cannot be repaired, so the syndrome itself has no cure. However, given the treatable nature of most symptoms and how frequently no symptoms appear at all, it's quite possible to lead a full and normal life despite having this syndrome.
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