Symptoms and Treatments for Common Birth Defects

There are 6 common birth defects including: congenital heart defects, clubfoot, cleft lip/palate, spina bifida, missing or underdeveloped limbs, and sickle-cell disease. Some of the symptoms and treatments are similar and some are unique. Understanding these common birth defects and their symptoms and treatments may come in handy if you are in the medical field, know someone with a birth defect or care for someone with one of these birth defects.

The majority of babies born in America are born healthy, thank goodness. The statistics are that 3 in every 100 births results in a child with a birth defect. Birth defects can be congenital or hereditary. They may be short-term with a cure or treatment or they may be long-term requiring extensive therapy or even surgury to correct the defect. Birth defects can unfortunately also be fatal at birth, soon after birth, result in a stillbirth or be fatal within a few months or years following birth.

What parents should do if their baby is born with a birth defect.

Get a second opinion.

Consult with your pediatrician or obstetrician, who can then refer you to someone who can do a second opinion. They can also refer you to specialists.

Many birth defects can be detected and treated with early intervention; so getting early postnatal care is essential.

Congenital Heart Defects:

Heart defects occur in 1 out of 110 births and have many different causes including genetic. The pediatrician who examines the newborn soon after birth usually discovers these defects. An abnormal heart sound is usually heard upon exam. The very serious ones can be outwardly detected and can lead to congestive heart failure if left untreated. The symptoms for congenital heart defects are:

A rapid heartbeat

Breathing difficulties

Difficulty feeding

Inadequate weight gain

Swelling in the abdomen, eyes or legs

Bluish or grey skin

Treatment:

Most congenital heart defects can be treated or improved by medications, drugs or by using a mechanical aid like a pacemaker.

Clubfoot:

Clubfoot occurs in approximately 1 out of 400 births and usually affects boys more than girls. Clubfoot is an abnormality of the ankle and foot. It is not certain what causes this birth defect. It may be that there are heredity or environmental factors involved in this birth defect but more studies are necessary to be certain.

Clubfoot can be mild or severe and can affect one or both feet. There is no pain involved in clubfoot and the baby won't be bothered until it is time to walk or stand.

Treatment for clubfoot involves gently forcing the foot into the correct position by doing exercises, using plaster casts, bandaging with splints or by using special shoes depending on the severity of the clubfoot. Correcting may take 3 to 6 months depending on the severity and the response.

Cleft Lip/Palate

This birth defect occurs in 1 out of 700 births and is more pervalent with caucasian babies than with Asian or other ethnic groups. It is suspected that genetics and environmental factors have a role in this defect.

The cleft can be mild or it can be severe. It can involve the lip, the floor of the nostril, and the dental arch. A speech therapist is usually involved in the treatment plan because language development is dependant on lip and palate structure for proper pronunciation. Middle-ear infections are common in those who have lip/palate deformities. Feedings may also be difficult and babies with this disorder may need help at feeding times.

Treatment:

Surgical repair is usually needed to restore proper structure for the lip, nasal area and palate. The surgery is usually done at between 6 month and one year of age. Minimal scarring usually results from the surgery.

Spina Bifida:

This is a anatomical abnormality which occurs in 1 out of 2,000 births, and usually happens in caucasian or in those of European background. There is a malformation of the neural tube in the first few weeks of embryonic life and effects the spine and the brain. This defect prevents the backbone from closing properly. It ranges in severity from being very mild with no side-effects to causing leg paralysis and bladder and bowel control issues.

Treatment:

Severe cases require that the baby have an operation within 48 hours of birth or an in-utero technique can also be performed if the condition is detected through prenatal testing. Parents will be taught how to exercise the baby's legs to help prepare them for walking. Some children will need leg braces, crutches or a wheelchair depending on the severity. Others may need orthopedic or urology specialists and physical therapy intervention.

Missing or Underdeveloped Limbs:

Missing or underdeveloped limbs is an anatomical abnormality birth defect. The cause of this birth defect is mostly unknown though some experts believe that there is a connection between maternal exposure to harmful chemicals or viruses during pregnancy.

After birth the parents of the child born with a missing limb or underdeveloped limb are referred to an orthopedic specialist and a physical therapist. The child may need to be fitted with a prosthesis (artificial body part) early on in life so that he/she will become comfortable with it. Physical therapy will be required to be able to learn how to use the prosthesis.

Sickle-Cell Disease:

This is a biochemical birth defect caused by essential substances being absent in the baby's bodily functions. This disorder occurs in 1 out of every 625 births and effects African-Americans and Hispanics of Caribbean background most. There is a blood test available that can be given to newborns to detect this disorder. It is important to detect it early to prevent damage to vital organs.

Symptoms:

Debilitating bouts of pain

Possible damage to vital organs (which can be fatal)

Abnormal red blood cells

Increased vulnerability to bacterial infections

Sickle-cell Anemia cannot be cured. There are new therapies that can reduce the severity and the frequency of the crisises associated with the disease.