Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

10 Preventive Medicine
COMMON BIRTH DEFECTS
Birth Defect Health Risk to Infant Preventive Measures
cleft defects (craniofacial negligible with reconstructive surgery possibly folic acid supplementation
clefts) difficulty nursing, eating, and with speech GENE mutations have been identified
when uncorrected
FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS) mild to moderate physical deformities, abstinence from ALCOHOL during PREGNANCY
mental retardation, and BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS is fully preventive
genitourinary defects negligible with reconstructive surgery none known
EPISPADIAS absence of both kidneys is usually fatal gene mutations have been identified
HYPOSPADIAS
KIDNEY deformities
INFECTION mild to severe deformities, depending on vaccination for measles, rubella, and
CHICKENPOX gestational age at time of infection chickenpox prior to pregnancy
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) blindness avoid contact with cat feces (such as through
MEASLES
cleaning litter boxes or handling dirt
RUBELLA
outdoors) and with uncooked meat to
TOXOPLASMOSIS
prevent toxoplasmosis
HERPES
frequent HAND WASHING to reduce risk for
infectious diseases in general
major HEART defects significant, with high risk for death none known
hypoplastic left heart lifelong complications remain even with comprehensive PRENATAL CARE for early
syndrome (HLHS) successful surgery detection and treatment planning; infant will
tetralogy of Fallot these defects are the leading reason for heart require emergency treatment at birth
transposition of the great transplantation in children gene mutations have been identified
arteries (TPA)
minor heart defects negligible with appropriate treatment none known
ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT (ASD) (usually surgical repair) comprehensive prenatal care for early
PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS
detection and treatment planning
(PDA)
gene mutations have been identified
VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT
(VSD)
NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS significant folic acid supplementation before CONCEPTION
anencephaly anencephaly is always fatal through the first 28 days of pregnancy cuts
SPINA BIFIDA spina bifida often causes deformity and risk in half
lower body PARALYSIS, including loss of bowel many health experts recommend all women
and BLADDER function
of childbearing age take folic acid
supplements (400 micrograms per day)
gene mutations have been identified