Congenital diseases are present at birth and can appear later in life. Examples include spina bifida, empty saddle syndrome, and congenital malaria. Causes vary, with some being genetic or caused by infections passed from mother to child. Symptoms can range from no side effects to paralysis, seizures, and mental retardation.
A congenital disease is one that is present at birth. Although a person is born with such a disease, it may not appear until later in life. There are numerous kinds of these inflicting people all over the world. Examples are spina bifida, empty saddle syndrome and congenital malaria.
Spina bifida is a condition in which the spinal cord does not fully develop. In many cases, however, it can be detected early in pregnancy. Some people born with this condition suffer no related side effects. Others may experience problems such as fluid in the brain, abnormal eye coordination and paralysis. Many also develop latex allergies.
Some theories suggest that this condition is caused by genetics. Others link epileptic mothers who took valproic acid (VPA) with an increased likelihood of delivering a baby with spina bifida. There are, however, no clear and solid conclusions about the causes of this congenital disease.
Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) is a congenital disorder that affects the pituitary gland. The sella turcica is a structure located at the base of the brain and is supposed to protect the pituitary gland. When a person has ESS, the sella turcica will appear empty because the pituitary gland is too small or flattened.
The pituitary gland is responsible for producing certain hormones. People suffering from ESS can experience erectile dysfunction, irregular menstruation and lack of sex drive. There are several things that are thought to have the potential to cause ESS. These include obesity, high blood pressure, and pressure buildup within the skull.
Another congenital disease involving the brain is Aicardi syndrome. This disease involves improper development of the corpus callosum, which is the part of the brain that allows communication between the left and right sides. It typically only affects females, who usually appear to be born normal but begin to experience spasms within the first few months. Most people with this congenital disorder experience seizures and some degree of mental retardation.
There are some congenital diseases whose causes are clear. These occur when a mother is infected with a disease that she passes on to her child. Two examples are rubella and malaria.
Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a viral condition. It is believed to be transmitted from mother to child mainly during the first trimester, but can be passed on later as well. When this happens, there are high chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects. Possible birth defects can include seizures, congenital glaucoma, and mental retardation.
A rare condition that is more common in Africa is congenital malaria. It can cause low birth weight, feeding problems and mortality. This condition is usually diagnosed when parasites are found in the baby within the first week of life. It is often treated with intravenous administration of quinine.
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