Birth defects

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Birth Defects

Birth defects (pronunciation: /bɜːrθ dɪˈfɛkts/), also known as congenital anomalies or congenital disorders, are conditions that are present from birth. They can cause physical or mental disabilities, and sometimes both. The etymology of the term "birth defect" is straightforward, with "birth" referring to the time of occurrence and "defect" indicating an imperfection or abnormality.

Causes

Birth defects can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic factors, exposure to certain medications or chemicals during pregnancy, certain infections during pregnancy, and certain maternal health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity. However, in many cases, the exact cause of a birth defect is unknown.

Types of Birth Defects

There are many different types of birth defects, including:

  • Heart defects: These are the most common type of birth defect. They can range from minor defects that cause no symptoms to severe defects that require immediate medical treatment.
  • Down syndrome: This is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability and distinctive physical features.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Birth defects can often be diagnosed before birth through prenatal testing. Some birth defects can be treated or managed with surgery, medication, or other medical interventions. However, some birth defects cannot be corrected and may cause lifelong disabilities or health problems.

Prevention

While not all birth defects can be prevented, some can be avoided by taking certain steps before and during pregnancy, such as taking folic acid supplements, avoiding certain medications and chemicals, and managing chronic health conditions.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski