What Is the Name of Birth Defects to Babies That Were Born Years Ago

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Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities that occur before a baby is born. They are usually obvious within the first year of life.

• The cause of many birth defects is unknown, but infections, genetics, and certain environmental factors increase the risk.

• After the baby is born, the diagnosis may be based on a physical examination, imaging tests, and blood tests.

• Some birth defects can be prevented by maintaining good nutrition while pregnant and avoiding alcohol, radiation, and certain drugs.

• Some birth defects can be corrected with surgery or managed with drugs.

Birth defects can involve any part of any organ in the body, including the following:

Some birth defects are more common than others.

A birth defect is evident in about 7.5% of all children by age 5 years, although many of these are minor. Major birth defects are evident in about 3 to 4% of newborns.

Several birth defects can occur together in the same infant.

It is not surprising that birth defects are fairly common, considering the complexities involved in the development of a single fertilized egg into the millions of specialized cells that constitute a human being. Although the cause of most birth defects is unknown, certain genetic and environmental factors increase the chance of birth defects developing. These factors include exposure to radiation Radiation and children Radiation injury is damage to tissues caused by exposure to ionizing radiation. Large doses of ionizing radiation can cause acute illness by reducing the production of blood cells and damaging... read more , certain drugs (see Table: Some Drugs That Can Cause Problems During Pregnancy* Some Drugs That Can Cause Problems During Pregnancy* More than 50% of pregnant women take prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs or use social drugs (such as tobacco and alcohol) or illicit drugs at some time during pregnancy... read more ), alcohol Alcohol during pregnancy More than 50% of pregnant women take prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs or use social drugs (such as tobacco and alcohol) or illicit drugs at some time during pregnancy... read more , nutritional deficiencies Drugs and dietary supplements There is much a pregnant woman can do to take care of herself during pregnancy. If she has any questions about diet, the use of drugs or nutritional supplements, physical activity, and sexual... read more , certain infections in the mother Infections During Pregnancy Most common infections that occur during pregnancy, such as those of the skin, urinary tract, and respiratory tract, cause no serious problems. However, some infections can be passed to the... read more , and genetic disorders Overview of Chromosome and Gene Disorders Chromosomes are structures within cells that contain a person's genes. A gene is a segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and contains the code for a specific protein that functions in one or... read more .

Some risks are avoidable. Others occur no matter how strictly a pregnant woman adheres to healthful living practices. Many birth defects develop before a woman knows she is pregnant.

A teratogen is any substance that can cause or increase the chance of a birth defect. Teratogens include

• Toxins (including alcohol)

Exposure to a teratogen most commonly affects the fetal organ that is developing most rapidly at the time of exposure. For example, exposure to a teratogen during the time that certain parts of the brain are developing is more likely to cause a defect in those areas than exposure before or after this critical period.

Keeping a fetus healthy requires maintaining a nutritious diet Diet and weight There is much a pregnant woman can do to take care of herself during pregnancy. If she has any questions about diet, the use of drugs or nutritional supplements, physical activity, and sexual... read more . For example, insufficient folic acid (folate Folate Deficiency Folate deficiency is common. Because the body stores only a small amount of folate, a diet lacking in folate leads to a deficiency within a few months. Not eating enough raw leafy vegetables... read more ) in the diet increases the chance that a fetus will develop spina bifida or other abnormalities of the brain or spinal cord known as neural tube defects Neural Tube Defects and Spina Bifida Neural tube defects are a certain type of birth defect of the brain, spine, and/or spinal cord. Neural tube defects can result in nerve damage, learning disabilities, paralysis, and death. The... read more . Cleft lip Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate The most common birth defects of the skull and face are cleft lip and cleft palate, affecting about 2 of every 1,000 babies. Cleft lip is a separation of the upper lip, usually just below the... read more (a separation of the upper lip) or cleft palate Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate The most common birth defects of the skull and face are cleft lip and cleft palate, affecting about 2 of every 1,000 babies. Cleft lip is a separation of the upper lip, usually just below the... read more (a split in the roof of the mouth) is also more likely to develop.

However, many birth defects are caused by new chromosome abnormalities or gene mutations that arise in the child and were not inherited from the parents.

Birth defects caused by genetic factors often include more than just an obvious malformation of a single body part.

The infections that most often cause birth defects are

A woman can have one of these infections and not know it because some of these infections can cause few or no symptoms in adults.

• Before birth, ultrasonography and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling

• After birth, physical examination, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests

• Older age

• Have had frequent miscarriages

• Have had other children with chromosome abnormalities or birth defects or who died for unknown reasons

These women may need monitoring and special tests to find out whether their baby is developing normally.

Increasingly, birth defects are being diagnosed before the baby is born.

• Sometimes surgery or drugs

Abnormal chromosomes or genes cannot be corrected.

Surgery can correct or help some birth defects. Drugs and surgery can be used to manage the symptoms caused by other defects.

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What Is the Name of Birth Defects to Babies That Were Born Years Ago

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