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The life expectancy with Spina Bifida is the same for males and females; it is a normal life expectancy, as long as bladder infections and pressure sores are kept under control and the hydrocephalus (water on the brain) shunt is watched carefully for shunt failure and replaced as necessary. Spina Bifida is not fatal these days, now that modern shunts and antibiotics are readily available, at least in developed countries.
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∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe lifespan of people with Spina Bifida was proven in the 1970s to be at least into young adulthood. But the experience of people with Spina Bifida has proven that these days, the lifespan of someone with Spina Bifida can be normal, as long as they get treatment for things like hydrocephalus (water on the brain), sores (especially below the waist), and urinary tract infections, as needed.
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∙ 14y agoThe life span of any person, male or female, with Spina Bifida, is now thought to be normal, although the latest actual studies were only able to follow people with Spina Bifida up to young adulthood. No studies of people past young adulthood with Spina Bifida have been done yet, but such people do exist. Life span with Spina Bifida depends on control of urinary tract infections and prevention of pressure sores, or healing pressure sores that do develop, and not allowing a severe infection to develop in the sores.
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∙ 14y agoSpina Bifida is a birth defect. It is permanent. It does not go away.
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∙ 14y agoi am 61 years old and i am severly disabled by spina bifada.
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Does spina bifida last your whole life?
Spina Bifida is a lifelong disability that can never be outgrown.
What time of life are you affected by spina bifida?
Spina Bifida is a birth defect that affects the entire life. It doesn't go away. It can be treated, and surgeries and medications can help, but cannot get rid of the Spina Bifida.
What drugs are used for Spina Bifida?
In my life with Spina Bifida, I have had to use antibiotics for urinary tract infections, and I have used a medication to stop bladder spasms. Every case of Spina Bifida is unique in some ways, and not all people with Spina Bifida will need the same medications. Some may need pain medications. Some may not.
What is the congenital heart defect life expectancy?
It really depends on what congenital heart defect you are talking about. Your question is tagged in the Spina Bifida category, and as far as I know there is no particular heart defect more common in people with spina bifida than in the general population. The severity and life expectancy of heart defects can range from death immediately upon birth, to totally asymptomatic with a normal life expectancy, so if you want a better explanation, try asking again but please be sure to include the specific type of defect, since there are many.
Can someone with Spina Bifida have it all their life and not get diagnosis until they are in their thirties?
If they have the most mild form of Spina Bifida, called Spina Bifida Occulta, then yes, this is certainly possible. Spina Bifida Occulta often shows no outward signs and is many times not discovered until the person has an x-ray or other procedure in which the spine is seen.
What would be the difference between someone who has spina bifida for life and someone who doesnt?
Spina Bifida is a birth defect. The damage to the spinal cord and nerves is permanent for everyone.
Can you go through life not knowing you have Spina Bifida?
I am no doctor, but i can tell you i am 22 Years old and have recently been experiencing extreme lower back pain. I went to a chiropractor today who confirmed via x-ray that i do indeed have spina bifida. I am still fairly new to this diagnosis so i am doing more research on this....You can go through life with Spina Bifida Occulta, and not know it. That is the only form of Spina Bifida that doesn't cause a hole in the back.
How you know you got spina bifida?
Children with spina bifida often have hydrocephalus, which consists of excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.According to the Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA), over 73 percent of people with spina bifida develop an allergy to latex, ranging from mild to life-threatening. The common use of latex in medical facilities makes this a particularly serious concern. The most common approach to avoid developing an allergy is to avoid contact with latex-containing products such as examination gloves, catheters, and many of the products used by dentists. (Wikipedia) for more info go to the related lik(spina bifida) below
Can you learn how to walk if you have Spina Bifida?
Yes. I have spina bifida and I'm twenty years old and I've been able to walk completely normal my entire life with no crutches or braces of any kind and have never had any complications. Not all people with Spina Bifida can walk. It depends on the severity of the condition in the individual. But with advances in medicine, children with Spina Bifida can now receive early intervention and many are able to walk, at least with crutches or a walker, if not unaided.
Can Spina Bifida end life short?
It is possible, but it depends on its severity. Some people with a strong case of meylomeningocele may have more lack of oxygen towards the brain, or more severe bladder and kidney infections due to permanent catheterization. Others wont. I suffer from the harshest one, but I can walk, run, etc and I have only needed two surgeries all my life, but I self-catheterise. So it really depends on how severe and birth deformed it affected the person.
How is gastrulation involved in spina bifida?
The term "gastrulation" refers to an early stage of development when the single cell that life begins from, the blastula, does not develop correctly. This may cause a loss of symmetry (amongst other things) which then leads to the development of spina bifida.
What is the life expectancy of a kid with spina bifida?
I have a moderate form of spina bifida, called meningocele, and hydrocephalus but am quite independent. However, I depend on others to drive me places. I also use crutches to walk and anything further than 100 metres requires the use of a wheelchair. I also need to wear splints in order to be able to walk. The hydrocephalus also causes great difficulty retaining important information and being in school surrounded by a large group of my classmates was extremely difficult for me, as I would find myself drifting off after a couple of minutes and then would be suddenly aware that I had lost concentration. The spina bifida also caused nerve damage to my arms and unfortunately I can't write as quickly as a normal, healthy person does. For example, say it takes someone 30 minutes to write out a long paragraph - it would take me double that time to complete the same amount of work. I had a shunt inserted when I was 10 days old and it's still in perfect working order and had an operation on my back when I was 5 years old. In spite of my difficulties I have managed to live a good life so far and long may it continue.
