Congenital anomalies are present at birth and can range from extra digits to incomplete brains. They can be caused by genetic conditions, environmental exposures, or have no known cause. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the anomaly.
Congenital anomalies are abnormalities in the body that are present at birth. These include everything from extra digits to incompletely formed brains. Also known as congenital anomalies or birth defects, congenital anomalies are identified in about three out of 100 births. There are a variety of reasons babies are born with abnormalities, and they aren’t necessarily harmful or the fault of the parents.
In fact, over half of congenital anomalies are what’s known as “sporadic,” meaning there’s no known cause or risk factor. Others may be the cause of environmental exposures, ranging from medications taken during pregnancy to exposure to teratogenic chemicals in the workplace. Genetic conditions can also cause birth defects, and these conditions can be spontaneous or inherited in nature.
Some congenital anomalies are identified at birth because they are physically obvious, such as when a child is born with an extra toe, or because they cause health problems that require medical attention, such as a child born with a congenital heart defect. . Congenital anomalies may also be identified later in life as they interfere with development or become more apparent over time. Sometimes, someone lives an entire life without being aware of a congenital abnormality and is only discovered after death during an autopsy.
When a congenital abnormality is found, the doctor usually recommends determining the cause, if possible, and looking for any related medical problems that may need to be addressed. This information is used to inform parents about their treatment options.
In some cases, no treatment may be recommended. Some abnormalities, like being born with different colored eyes, aren’t harmful and there’s no reason to treat them. In other cases, treatment such as surgery may be recommended for cosmetic reasons, or a doctor may suggest that parents wait for the child to grow a little older so that the child can have a role in whether or not to have surgery. surgery or other treatments.
In other cases, congenital anomalies can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment, or they are medical problems that need to be managed, even though they may not necessarily be fatal. For example, some genetic disorders need to be treated with medications to keep the baby healthy, and things like heart defects need to be corrected with surgery. You may need a waiting period for surgery to allow your child to get stronger sooner.
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