Congenital anomalies are present at birth and can affect any part of the body. They can be caused by genetics, environment, or unknown factors. Some anomalies may not be noticed until later in life and can range from minor to life-threatening. While some can be addressed, not all can be cured or minimized. Taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of certain defects.
Congenital tends to mean present at birth and abnormality could be defined as something other than normal. Congenital anomalies are therefore those characteristics or differences that are present when a child is born, even if they are not immediately noticed. There are several of these which can be caused by a variety of factors including genetics, unknown genetic change or the environment. Sometimes the cause of these anomalies, which many prefer to call glitches, is simply not known.
One way to group congenital anomalies is by body system they primarily affect, when and if they are present alone. For example, the most common of birth defects, heart defects, have a major impact on the cardiovascular system. These range from minor, insignificant changes that may never be noticed and can go away on their own, to serious and complex heart malformations that can alter its shape and function in profoundly dangerous ways.
Many congenital anomalies involve bone growth or the skeletal system. Some types that might fall into this range are any shape or form of clubfoot, fused fingers or hands, unusual growth or failure to grow in the skeletal structure, and congenitally shorter limbs, such as might be present in children with Down syndrome. Cleft palate can also be in this group, although severe clefts can affect the sinuses and breathing as well.
There are congenital anomalies of the reproductive system and urinary tract. These include being born with male and female reproductive elements or the lack of various elements that would allow for reproduction. Fusion of the anus or ureter or communications between the rectum and vagina may be present in some children.
Many times, when a baby is born with congenital anomalies, a number of systems are affected at the same time. It’s not unthinkable for a child to have multiple-area defects, and these are often classified as a syndrome, though not always. For example, cerebral palsy, which is often seen as caused by injury to the brain in the third trimester or at birth, can show a variety of weakness and poor function that impair things like walking, most motor skills, and even talking and eating. .
Some syndromes are also characterized by an ability to affect several areas. Down syndrome typically impacts brain function and learning. Children are also characterized by epicanthic folds above the eyes, shorter limbs, and some being difficult with fine motor skills. They may also have heart defects or develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in old age.
Some children with heart defects have heterotaxy or Ivemark syndrome. In addition to complex heart defects, children may also lack a spleen or have many tiny functioning spleens. Conversely, conditions like spina bifida can cause problems in the lower half of the body and can impair walking and movement or things like bladder and bowel function.
Another true thing about some congenital anomalies is that they may not be expressed at birth and it can be months or even years before the abnormality is discovered. Some organ defects may be mild at first, posing little harm to a newborn. Abnormalities can emerge as a child grows, can worsen with age, or can cause aggressive deterioration of the entire body.
What can be said about congenital anomalies is that they are fortunately rare, but have the ability to affect virtually any part of the body, from blood, tissue, skeletal system, major and minor organs. While there are currently many ways to address some of these conditions, there are no ways to cure all of them or minimize their impact on a child’s life. You can’t always know who will have a child with a congenital anomaly, although genetic testing can help if a family has a known genetic connection to certain diseases. It is also useful to take folic acid supplements before conception and during pregnancy, as this has been shown to drastically reduce the risk of certain defects.
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