Defects At Birth And Why They Occur

Particular issues to the body acquired by birth are called congenital disabilities. They are classified as appearance-based and purpose-based. Physical deformations are called congenital structural disabilities. The most common fundamental congenital disability is cleft palate or lip, clubbed foot, distortions around the heart such as abnormally shaped or missing valves. Structural deformities since birth also include spinal cord related growth issues. Spina bifida is one of the neural defects that affect the brain and spinal cord development. Functional congenital disabilities are those that affect the working of the body, either a part of a whole system. These defects often lead to developmental abilities such as brain or nervous issues, metabolic issues, sensory disorders and degenerative conditions.

Birth Defects That Affect Physical Deformities

Structural deformities such as cleft lip or cleft palate are congenital malformations that are developmental defects of the roof of the mouth and upper lip. They have been observed to occur separately or in combination. They are known to occur due to incomplete fusion during the gestation period. A cleft lip is a gap in the upper lip due to improper fusion on the middle, right or left. A cleft palate is an opening in the hard or soft tissue on the roof of the mouth to the centre, right or left, similar to that of a cleft lip. Cleft palates often extend from the upper jaw to the rear of the throat. The lip develops during the first 35 days of gestation, and the palate develops by the eighth or ninth week. Due to this, there is a chance for a child to have either a cleft lip or cleft palate or even both.

Mental Abilities Affected By Birth Defects

From learning disabilities to movement trouble, behavioural disorders to language and speech difficulties, or convulsions are nervous system problems that are inherent by birth. Some examples are Prader-Willi syndrome, Down syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome and Autism. Sensory issues vary from hearing loss to deafness and cataracts to blindness. Metabolic disorders differ from one hypothyroidism to phenylketonuria. These disorders limit the body's chemical processes affecting the digestion, detoxification and survival necessities within the body system. The aftereffects may be gradual but could bring drastic changes to life in general.

Degenerative Disorders By Birth

Degenerative disorders are often not evident at birth and take time to gradually develop and take full control over life as we know it. Muscular dystrophy, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, Lysosomal disorders and Rett syndrome are few degenerative disorders. Birth defects are often caused by the genetic problems such as absence of a gene or mutation of a gene in itself. Chromosomal issues such as having an extra chromosome or missing one could also lead to these degenerative conditions. A woman’s exposure to the environment during pregnancy could be another factor behind these birth defects. Alcohol, drugs, smoking, and viral infections are some of the villains

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