Birth Defects/Congenital Abnormalities
From WikiGenetics
A birth defect is a problem that happens while a fetus is developing prior to birth. Congenital abnormalities refer to features or conditions that a baby is born with, as opposed to conditions that develop later in life. About 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect in the U.S.
A birth defect may cause physical or mental disabilities. It can affect almost any part of the body and can range from mild to severe. Some birth defects can be corrected by surgery or other medical treatments and children can lead normal lives. But some birth defects are very severe and can cause death. Some birth defects are easily detected, such as a club foot or cleft lip, but others such as heart defects or hearing loss may require x-rays and special tests. Not all birth defects can be detected prenatally. gemscool
Some of the most common birth defects affect the heart. About 1 in every 200-300 babies is born with a heart defect. Depending on the type and severity of the heart defect, it may be correctable by surgery. Other common birth defects are called “neural tube” defects. These are due to abnormal development of the baby’s spine or brain and affect about 1 in 1,000 babies. These defects are sometimes very severe, causing early death. Birth defects of the lip and the roof of the mouth are also common. They are referred to as cleft lip and cleft palate and affect about 1 in 700-1,000 babies.
Many birth defects are caused by multiple factors—both genetic and environmental. For example, the risk of neural tube defects is increased in families with a history of neural tube defects, but the risk can be reduced with folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy. Uncontrolled medical conditions of the mother, such as diabetes, can also lead to birth defects such as heart defects. Some medicines such as Accutane are also known to cause birth defects.
To learn more about your risk of having a baby with a birth defect, please talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor. In particular, women should consult their doctor before becoming pregnant to begin multi-vitamin supplements containing folic acid, to get help with managing their medical conditions, to decide which medications are safe to take, and to avoid exposure to alcohol, drugs, and smoking. gemscool
[edit] References
Genetic Alliance. 2007. Understanding Genetics: A Guide for Patients and Health Care Professionals. http://www.geneticalliance.org/ws_display.asp?filter=understanding.genetics.download
[edit] See Also
AccessDNA.com - Congenital Birth Defects: http://AccessDNA.com/condition/Congenital_Birth_Defects/410
AccessDNA.com - Neural Tube Defects: http://www.AccessDNA.com/condition/Neural_Tube_Defects_/351
AccessDNA.com - Congenital Heart Defects: http://www.accessdna.com/condition/Congenital_Heart_Defects/101
AccessDNA.com - Oral-facial clefting: http://accessdna.com/condition/Oral-Facial_Clefts/91
AccessDNA.com - Clubfoot: http://www.AccessDNA.com/condition/Clubfoot/93
