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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.
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∙ 12y ago
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Is diastematomyelia the same as Spina Bifida?
No, scoliosis and spina bifida are not the same. Scoliosis means your spine is crooked. Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the spine does not completely close during the first trimester of the baby's development in the womb, and the baby is born, in the most severe form of spina bifida, with part of the nerves of the spine and even part of the spinal cord itself, outside the body. It is possible to have both scoliosis and spina bifida at the same time, but they are two different conditions.
How many people were born with spina bifida in the 1970's?
One in one thousand babies are born with spina bifida. Therefore, this rate can be extrapolated to the number of total births (in any location, and in any period of time).
How do you explain Spina Bifida to a child?
I was born with Spina Bifida and this comes up all the time. When explaining it to very young children I just say I have a "bo bo" on my back. When explaining it to older children I will use the example of a broken zipper. The spine when forming it is like a closing zipper and when you are born with Spina Bifida it's like a broken zipper that did close all the way and left an open hole. It's pretty accurate and they can understand that.
What was the first case of Spina Bifida?
Professor Nicholas Tulp, Born: Amsterdam, 11 October 1593; Died: The Hague, 12 September 1674, gave Spina Bifida its name and gave the first formative description of the disability. Although the term and real medical description are somewhat recent, it is estimated that Spina Bifida occurred almost 12,000 years ago.Giovanni Battista Morgagni (February 25, 1682 - December 6, 1771), Italian anatomist, linked lower-limb deformity and hydrocephalus (an excessive amount of cerebro-spinal fluid within the head) with Spina Bifida in 1761.
What can Spina Bifida do to you?
It can cause hydrocephalus (water on the brain) due to a defect in the lower skull that often accompanies Spina Bifida, and it can cause total or partial paralysis of the legs and feet, and lack of bladder and bowel control.
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.
What does it mean if your hands are curling in all the time?
You may have a delayed case of Spina Bifida (usually present in developing embryos) Seek medical attention uregently
How does Accutane affect someone with Spina Bifida?
It can cause a number of very serious birth defects. Some of the most common are:Visual impairmentHearing impairment and/or missing earlobesFacial malformationsMental retardationHeart defectsGlandular and central nervous system malformations
Is Spina Bifida connected to your headaches?
Yes it can. I suffer from spina bifida occulta which affects at least two of my lower vertebrae. Over time this has led to deterioration in my discs and MRI scans have revealed considerable wear and tear to the area. Severe pain is often experienced in my lower back along with spasms which are so painful that they render me totally immobile. I also suffer considerably from severe headaches. Sadly in my experience most General Practitioners and even Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons are not very familiar with this condition.
Are all birth defects recognisable at birth?
Not all birth defects are detected at birth, such as, for instance, Spina Bifida Occulta, a mild form of Spina Bifida which is often not detected until the person has an X-ray or other test that reveals the presence of the defect. But even that canbe detected at birth, if the child were to undergo such an X-ray or other test at that time. I know a person who was unaware that he had Spina Bifida Occulta until he had a spinal X-ray at the age of 65. Another common birth defect that sometimes is not detected at birth is a heart defect that causes a heart murmur, which may be detected later by a careful doctor while listening to the person's heart.
Is there a medication to prevent or cure Spina Bifida?
At this time there is no cure for Spina Bifida. There are surgeries to treat some of the medical issues involved with the defects; doctors can shunt the excess fluid from the brain and cover the defect in the spine to prevent infection and further injury to the exposed spinal cord and nerves. Research shows a daily dose of 4mg of folic acid (Vitamin B9) taken by women at risk, starting one to three months before conception and continued through the first trimester reduces the risk of having a baby with the defect up to 75%. Continued use of folic acid during pregnancy may reduce the severity of the defects when they do occur. Folic acid .4mg taken one month prior to conception and through out the first trimester reduces the risk of having a baby with Spina Bifida to about 1% in women with no known risks.
What is a vitamin that helps reduce Spina Bifida in children?
As far as I remember,folic acid is the most important one. It is recommended to be taken in the first trimester of pregnancy. I remember that it is especially important in preventing defects such as down syndrome. I also remember my physician mentioning nuchal translucency every time she asked me if I'm taking folic acid.
