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You cannot "get" Spina Bifida after birth, it is a birth defect. An unborn child can be at risk for Spina Bifida by his/her mother not getting enough folic acid during and before pregnancy, and also if there is a family history of Spina Bifida.
What else can I help you with?
Does a child have any risk with spina bifida dimpling?
This is a type of spina bifida but the mildest form. Usually no nerve damage occurs. It usually is seen with a tuff of hair.
What are the tests needed to determine spina bifida prenatally?
Taking vitamin B (folic acid) before getting pregnant will lower the risk of Spina Bifida. Ultra sound, Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) and amniocentesis are the tests used in early pregnancy to rule out such abnormalities.
Is anencephaly a result of incomplete formation of the vertebral arches and can be caused by inadequate folic acid in the maternal diet?
False, that's spina bifida. Both spina bifida and anencephaly are neural tube defects whose risk decreases with adequate folic acid intake.
What is the pattern of inheritance of Spina Bifida?
Spina bifida doesn't follow a strict inheritance pattern, but hereditary factors do play some role, though it is not completely understood yet. Mothers who have had one child with spina bifida have a 3-4% chance of their next child having spina bifida, while the general population only has a 0.1-0.2% chance. In the case a pregnant woman has a family history of spina bifida, it is recommended that they take a higher dose of folic acid than other pregnant women. Here again, folic acid plays a role in preventing neural tube defects (like spina bifida), but the mechanism is not well understood. Also, for an unknown reason, it is more prevalent in female children than in male children.
How do anti-convulsant drugs affect Spina Bifida?
Anti-convulsant drugs can have several effects on individuals with spina bifida, primarily due to their potential teratogenic properties, which can impact fetal development if taken during pregnancy. They may also influence neurological function and seizure control in individuals with spina bifida, who may be at increased risk for seizures. Additionally, some anti-convulsants can interact with other medications or treatments used for managing spina bifida-related conditions, necessitating careful monitoring by healthcare providers. Overall, the use of these drugs requires a careful risk-benefit analysis tailored to the patient's specific situation.
What is one strategy that may reduce the risk of Spina Bifida?
Folic acid supplementation beginning at least 3 months before conception and continued through at least the first trimester of fetal development has been shown to reduce the incidence of spina bifida by almost 75%.
What race is most attacked by spina bifida?
Spina Bifida has been found to occur most in Hispanic populations.The following lists groups by race/ethnicity from most at risk to least at risk:Hispanic (most at risk)WhiteAmerican Indian / Alaskan NativeBlackAsian / Pacific Islander (least at risk)Please see the related link for more.
How can people avoid getting this Spina Bifida disorder?
There is no means of definitely preventing Spina Bifida, however taking folic acid leading up to and throughout the pregnancy can assist in normal growth of the spinal cord and is therefore a good preventative measure to take. There is about a 0.1-0.2% chance an infant will be diagnosed with Spina Bifida, and not all cases are serious.
Is Spina Bifida an autosomal recessive disorder?
It is not exactly known what causes Spina Bifida, but believed that genes and the environment play a role. Women who have given birth to children who have Spina Bifida are at a higher risk for having more children with the disorder. Before and during pregnancy, if one desires to have children, one can take steps to prevent Spina Bifida in one's child. By simply taking in 400 mcg of folic acid a day, or 4,000 mcg in women at a higher risk, not drinking alcohol, and not overheating your body, one can greatly reduce the chances of one's child being born with Spina Bifida. Also, one's doctor should be consulted before one gets pregnant if one takes medication for epilepsy, such as Depakote, or medication for acne, as some medications may cause birth defects.
Is Spina Bifida hereditary?
Spina bifida doesn't follow a strict inheritance pattern, but hereditary factors do play some role, though it is not completely understood yet. Mothers who have had one child with spina bifida have a 3-4% chance of their next child having spina bifida, while the general population only has a 0.1-0.2% chance. In the case a pregnant woman has a family history of spina bifida, it is recommended that they take a higher dose of folic acid than other pregnant women. Here again, folic acid plays a role in preventing neural tube defects (like spina bifida), but the mechanism is not well understood. Also, for an unknown reason, it is more prevalent in female children than in male children.
Your first child had Spina Bifida could your unborn child have it too?
There is a slight increase of about 3% to 7% over the general population for mothers who have had a child with Spina Bifida to have another child with the defect. This risk can be reduced to 1% by taking folic acid(vitamin D) in prescription strength starting four weeks prior to conception through the first trimester.In the event the fetus does have Spina Bifida taking folic acid will also help reduce the severity of the defect.
What are the chances of having a baby with spina bifida?
It depends on who the particular "you" is. For people who have no family history, the worldwide average is about 0.1 - 0.2%, but for those who do have a family history it can be as high as 3% without folic acid supplementation. In the US, we recommend that all pregnant women, and all women who are considering getting pregnant, take 0.4 mg of folic acid per day. If the woman has a family history of spina bifida or other neural tube defects, we recommend she takes 4 mg per day. This has the effect of lowering the 3% down to 1%.
