Folic acid, also called folate, is an important
vitamin in the development of a healthy fetus. Although taking this vitamin
cannot guarantee having a healthy baby, it can help. Recent studies have shown
that by adding folic acid to their diets, women of childbearing age
significantly reduce the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect, such
as spina bifida. Therefore, it is recommended that all women of childbearing age
consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Foods high in folic acid include
dark green vegetables, egg yolks, and some fruits. Many foods—such as some
breakfast cereals, enriched breads, flours, pastas, rice, and other grain
products—are now fortified with folic acid. A lot of
multivitamins contain the
recommended dosage of folic acid as well.
Women who have a child with spina bifida, have spina bifida themselves, or
have already had a pregnancy affected by any neural tube defect are at greater
risk of having a child with spina bifida or another neural tube defect. These
women may require more folic acid before they become pregnant.
What is the prognosis for spina bifida?
Children with spina bifida can lead relatively active
lives. Prognosis depends on the number and severity of abnormalities and
associated complications. Most children with the disorder have normal
intelligence and can walk, usually with assistive devices. If learning problems
develop, early educational intervention is helpful.
What research is being done on spina bifida?
Within the Federal Government, the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a component of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), supports and conducts research on brain and nervous
system disorders, including spina bifida. NINDS conducts research in its
laboratories at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, and supports research through
grants to major medical institutions across the country.
In one study supported by NINDS, scientists are looking at the hereditary
basis of neural tube defects. The goal of this research is to find the genetic
factors that make some children more susceptible to neural tube defects than
others. Lessons learned from this research will fill in gaps of knowledge about
the causes of neural tube defects and may lead to ways to prevent these
disorders. These researchers are also studying gene expression during the
process of neural tube closure, which will provide information on the human
nervous system during development.
In addition, NINDS-supported scientists are working to identify,
characterize, and evaluate genes for neural tube defects. The goal is to
understand the genetics of neural tube closure, and to develop information that
will translate into improved clinical care, treatment, and genetic counseling.
Other scientists are studying genetic risk factors for spina bifida,
especially those that diminish or lessen the function of folic acid in the
mother during pregnancy, possibly leading to spina bifida in the fetus. This
study will shed light on how folic acid prevents spina bifida and may lead to
improved forms of folate supplements.
NINDS also supports and conducts a wide range of basic research studies to
understand how the brain and nervous system develop. These studies contribute to
a greater understanding of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, and offer
hope for new avenues of treatment for and prevention of these disorders as well
as other birth defects.
Another component of the NIH, the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), is conducting a large 5-year study to determine if
fetal surgery to correct spina bifida in the womb is safer and more effective
than the traditional surgery—which takes place a few days after birth.
Researchers hope this study, called the Management of Myelomeningocele Study, or
MOMS, will better establish which procedure, prenatal or postnatal, is best for
the baby.
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21, also referred to as trisomy 21. Most individuals with Down syndrome have widely recognizable physical characteristics. The severity of Down syndrome ranges from mild to severe. Diagnostic testing for Down syndrome include amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and percutaneous umbilical cord sampling. The most common risk factor for Down syndrome is a woman's age.
Hydrocephalus is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. The fluid is often under increased pressure and can compress and damage the brain. Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary with age, progression of the disease, and individual tolerance to the condition. Hydrocephalus is most often treated by surgery in which a shunt system is inserted.
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that causes sudden fever, vomiting, headache, light sensitivity, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, and irritability. Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck.
Alcohol intake by a pregnant mother may result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in her child. A child with FAS may be hyperactive and have a low IQ, a small head, a growth lag, short eye openings, flattened cheekbones, a short nose, a smooth, thin upper lip, shortening of the fourth and fifth fingers, and a heart murmur.
Learning disabilities can cause an individual to have trouble learning and using skills such as reading, listening, writing, reading, speaking, reasoning, and performing mathematics. There is no cure for learning disabilities. Parents and teachers working together to properly diagnose learning disabilities can properly plan a course of education. For some, medication may be appropriate as complimentary treatment.
Birthmarks and other abnormal skin pigmentation is caused by the body's inability to produce enough melanin. Abnormal skin pigmentation can cause conditions such as vitiligo, pigmentation loss, melasma, albinism, port wine stains, macular stains and hemangioma.
Genetic disease is a disorder or condition caused by abnormalities in a person's genome. Types of genetic inheritance include single inheritance (for example, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Marfan syndrome, and hemochromatosis), multifactoral inheritance, chromosome abnormalities (for example, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome), and mitochondrial inheritance (for example, epilepsy and dementia).
Birth defects have many causes and currently, are the leading cause of death for infants in the first year of life. Some of the causes of birth defects include genetic or chromosome problems. Exposure of the mother to rubella or German measles during pregnancy, or using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. The treatment for birth defects depends upon the condition of the effected child.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes is a condition that is first recognized during pregnancy and is characterized by high blood sugar. Approximately 4% of all pregnancies are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Low blood sugar is prevented by hormones produced by the placenta during a woman's pregnancy. The actions of insulin are stopped by these hormones. Gestational diabetes is the result of the pancreas' s inability to produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increase hormones during pregnancy.
Urinary incontinence in children (enuresis) is twice as common in boys as in girls and may occur during the daytime or nighttime. Nighttime urinary incontinence is also called bedwetting and sleepwetting. The cause of nighttime incontinence in children is unknown. Daytime incontinence in children may be caused by an overactive bladder. Though many children overcome urinary incontinence naturally, it may be necessary to treat incontinence with medications, bladder training and moisture alarms, which wake the child when he or she begins to urinate.
Taking prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs or supplements should be discussed with your doctor. There are some medications that have been found to cause no problems in pregnancy, however, medications such as Accutane for acne, should never be taken during pregnancy.
Pregnancy can bring challenges like weight gain, stretch marks, varicose veins, heartburn, constipation, hemorrhoids, problems sleeping, and wondering if it is safe to have sex while pregnant. Learn how to manage and move through these challenges during pregnancy.
There are many syndromes and defects that may cause urine blockage in newborns. Defects in the urinary tract that may cause urine blockage include vesicoureteral reflux, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, bladder outlet obstruction, posterior urethral valves, nerve disease, and ureterocele. Syndromes that may cause urinary blockage include congenital heart defects, esophageal atresia, and prune belly syndrome. Treatment for urine blockage in newborns depends on the cause of the blockage.
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