| Albinism |
A
rare, inherited disorder in which no melanin, a dark brown
pigment, is formed. Children with albinism have white hair,
pale skin, and pink eyes. Often they also have abnormal
vision and involuntary eye movements (nystagmus).
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| Anemia |
A
condition in which the number of red blood cells or the amount
of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in them is
low. Anemia is usually detected or confirmed with a complete
blood cell (CBC) count. The most common causes are iron deficiency
due to inadequate iron in the baby’s diet or excessive
blood loss.
|
| Cerebral Palsy |
A
disorder that affects a child’s movement
and posture and does not worsen over time. |
| Cleft
lip/Cleft Palate |
The
most common defects of the skull and face are cleft lip
and cleft palate. These defects result from the failure
of the upper lip or the roof or the mouth to close during
fetal development. Cleft lip and palate can be on one
side
(unilateral) or on both sides (bilateral). The defects
usually occur together and affect about one in every
600-700 births.
Surgical repair is needed to close the lip and palate.
Eating and speech development are the biggest concerns.
China
defines clefts on the basis of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees.
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- 1st
degree cleft lip: only red lip is dehiscent
- 2nd
degree cleft lip: cleft is over red lip but not arrived
in the bottom of nose
- 3rd
degree cleft lip: cleft is from red lip to the bottom
of nose
1st
degree cleft lip and 2nd degree cleft lip are called incomplete
cleft lip. 3rd degree cleft lip is called complete cleft
lip.
- 1st
degree cleft palate: soft palate fissure
- 2nd
degree cleft palate: uranostaphyloschisis, fissure
of hard and soft palate
- 3rd
degree cleft palate: complete cleft palate, including
alveolar process fissure
|
| Club
Feet |
A
birth deformity in which the foot/feet are twisted out of
the normal position. The arch of the foot may be very high,
or the foot may be turned inward or outward. Early treatment
with casting may be beneficial, but correctable surgery is
generally needed.
|
| Congenital
Amputation |
A
condition in which an arm or leg or parts of an arm or leg
are missing. The cause is often unknown. Children often
become very adept at using the affected limb and modern
prosthetics can make the limb more functional.
|
| Congenital
Cataracts |
Cloudy
opacities in the lens of the eye that are present at birth.
These may be caused by chromosomal abnormalities, infections
such as measles, or other diseases that the birthmother
may
have had. Surgical removal is necessary for the child to
develop normal vision.
|
| Congenital
Dislocated Hip |
Condition
where a newborn’s thighbone (femur) is separated
from the hip socket. Sometimes double or triple diapering
may position
the infant to correct the problem. If not, splints or orthopedic
surgery may be needed.
|
| Congenital
Heart Defects |
Approximately
one in 120 infants are born with a heart defect, many
of
which are not severe. Congenital heart defects may involve
abnormal formation of the walls of the heart, the valves
or the blood vessels that enter or leave the heart. Following
are descriptions of some of the more common heart defects.
*
- Patent
Ductus Arteriosus- While in the womb, much of a fetus’
blood goes through a passageway (ductus arteriosus) from
one blood vessel to another instead of to the lungs, because
the lungs are not yet in use. The passageway should close
soon after birth, so the blood can take the normal route
from heart to lungs and back. If it doesn’t close,
blood doesn’t flow correctly. This problem occurs
most frequently in premature babies. In some cases, drug
treatment can help close the passageway. If that doesn’t
work, surgery can close it.
- Septal
Defects- If the defect is a hole in the wall (septum)
that divides the two upper or two lower chambers, the
blood can’t circulate as it should and the heart
has to work too hard. A surgeon can close the hole by
sewing or patching it. Small holes may heal by themselves
or not need repair at all.
- Coarctation
of the Aorta- Part of the aorta, the large artery
that sends blood from the heart to the rest of the body,
may be too narrow for the blood to flow evenly. A surgeon
can cut away the narrow part and sew the open ends together,
replace the constricted section with man-made material
or patch it with part of a blood vessel taken from elsewhere
in the body. Sometimes this narrowed area can be widened
by inflating a balloon on the tip of a catheter inserted
in an artery.
- Heart
Valve Abnormalities- Some babies are born with
heart valves that are narrowed, closed or blocked
and prevent
blood from flowing smoothly. Surgeons usually can repair
the valves or replace them with man-made ones.
Balloons
on catheters are frequently used as well, making surgery
unnecessary.
- Tetralogy
of Fallot- A combination of four heart defects keeps
some blood from getting to the lungs for oxygen, and the
baby becomes blue and sickly. New surgical techniques
allow early repair of this complex heart defect, so that
most affected children live normal or near-normal lives.
|
| Developmental Delays |
A
developmental delay occurs when a child has the delayed
achievement of
one or more of his milestones. This may affect the child's
speech and language, his fine and gross motor skills and/or
his personal and social skills. |
| Drug Exposed Infants |
May
exhibit low birth weight, premature birth, SIDS, failure
to thrive, birth defects, developmental and
learning problems. |
| Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
According
to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental
and physical defects which develops in some unborn babies
when the mother drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy.
A baby born with FAS may be seriously handicapped and require
a lifetime of special care. Some babies with alcohol-related
birth defects, including smaller body size, lower birth weight,
and other impairments, do not have all of the classic FAS
symptoms. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as Fetal
Alcohol Effects (FAE). |
| Global
Developmental Delays |
According
to Keepkidshealthy.com, A child is considered to have global
delays when they have delays in all areas of their development.
These can be caused by an incident at or near the time of
birth, which don’t tend to worsen over time. Or global
delays can be progressive and worsen over time, caused by
diseases that progress with time. |
| Hepatitis |
Any
inflammation of the liver, most frequently caused by one
of the hepatitis viruses.
- Hepatitis
A- This virus spreads primarily by fecal contamination
of food and water. A vaccination is available for travelers
to areas where the disease is prevalent.
- Hepatitis
B – This hepatitis virus is primarily spread
through contaminated needles or blood products,
sexual
contact or congenitally (a mother passes the virus to
her baby during birth). Hepatitis B immunization
is now
one of the required immunizations for schoolchildren
in the United States.
- Hepatitis
B Carrier- Child is infected but has no symptoms
at the time. This child could, in the future, get
rid of
the virus completely, could keep having an infection
with no symptoms or could develop chronic active
hepatitis.
- Active
Hepatitis B- The virus is in the child’s system
and they have symptoms and physical signs of the infection.
This means the virus is causing some damage somewhere
in the body, most frequently in the liver.
|
| Hypospadias |
An
abnormality of the urethra where the opening is on the underside
of the penis
|
| Inguinal
Hernia |
A
common type of hernia in which a loop of the intestine
protrudes directly through a weak area of the abdominal
wall in the groin area. It is the most common type of hernia
for males. Medical assessment is required and surgery may
be required.
|
| Meningocele |
Congenital
hernia in which the meninges (membranes) protrude through
an opening of the skull or spinal column. |
| Nystagmus |
Rapid
rhythmic repetitious eye movements
|
Polio (poliomyelitis) |
A
highly contagious disease caused by a virus, spread in developing
countries primarily through contaminated water supplies. Polio
can cause permanent muscle weakness, and paralysis and can
sometimes be fatal.
|
| Port
Wine Stain (nevi flammeus) |
A
flat, pink, red or purplish, discoloration present at birth.
Most of these birthmarks are physically harmless. Small port
wine stains can be covered with cosmetic cream. Larger ones
can be removed with a laser.
|
| Post
Polio Syndrome |
In
post polio syndrome, survivors of a polio infection may experience
progressive muscle weakness that gradually worsens. It often
is accompanied by decreased muscle endurance during activities,
muscle and joint pain, muscle wasting and severe fatigue.
Even muscles that were believed to be unaffected by the previous
bout with polio may be affected. These symptoms usually develop
15 years or more after the original illness.
|
| Rickets |
A
deficiency condition in children that results in inadequate
mineral deposits in cartilage and newly formed bone. This
deficiency usually comes from a lack of vitamin D in the diet
or from inadequate exposure to sunlight.
|
| Strawberry
Marks (capillary hemangiomas) |
A
raised, bright red tissue mass with small blood vessels
that
varies from .1 to 4 inches across. More than three quarters
of these disappear by age 7, but some leave a wrinkled
brown
appearance. They usually do not need to be surgically removed
unless they are near the eyes or other vital organs.
|
| Thalassemia |
A
hereditary form of anemia resulting from the underproduction
of hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that carries
oxygen. It occurs in populations bordering the Mediterranean
and in Southeast ASIA. The severity of the disease varies
depending on the type of thalassemia and may range from mild
to severe.
|
| Umbilical
Hernia |
A
small area of weakness or separation in the abdominal
wall
at the umbilicus (navel) allows the umbilicus to protrude
outward. The condition is painless and usually corrects
during
the first two years of life.
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