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People need to know what might happen if the mother doesn't take folic acid when pregnant.
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∙ 10y ago
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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 wheelchair should people born with Spina Bifida use?
If you were born with Spina Bifida and need a wheelchair you should consult with a Physical Therapist. They will measure you, assess your needs and recommend what you need. They will even help you with where to buy one.
Need a good laxative for spina bifida children?
Ask your doctor for this information.
Is a specialist needed to treat spina bifida?
Yes, a child with Spina Bifida will usually see an orthopedic specialist for leg problems, and often they will see a urologist for bladder control problems and any problems they may have with urinary tract infections, and may need to see a neurologist for shunt surgery if needed for hydrocephalus, which is "water on the brain." Spina Bifida can vary in severity, though, so a particular child may or may not need to see all these different types of specialists. Some may need more, if their Spina Bifida is more severe. They may need to see an Occupational Therapist or other types of educational specialists if they need any special help with schooling. Some children with Spina Bifida have no problem with school, others need special help.
Spina bifida camp ability?
I myself have Spina Bifida and went to camps for disabled children as a child. Children with Spina Bifida can usually participate in camping activities with no problem, unless the child is on crutches or a walker and does not have a wheelchair, and there is a lot of walking involved. The parents or guardians of such a child need to be aware of the need to check the child's feet and legs for sores and blisters while camping, as well as the child's bottom if the child does not walk.
Is it okay to give someone with Spina Bifida a back rub?
Certainly, although how hard one rubs might need to be adjusted since the back may be more sensitive than normal, and of course do not rub near where the scar is from the Spina Bifida (usually middle of the lower back).
What medical help is needed for Spina Bifida?
That depends on the level of the vertebrae at which the defect occurs. Common surgeries for persons with Spina Bifida may include orthopedic surgeries, on the legs and feet, to improve position and usage, and bladder and kidney surgeries to improve function. Some may need an ileostomy to allow the passage of urine through a stoma on the stomach, if the bladder doesn't function well enough. Also many with Spina Bifida will need a shunt, a small tube to drain cerebrospinal fluid out of the brain, because hydrocephalus ("water on the brain") is common with Spina Bifida.
What should be done if the mother is 20 weeks pregnant and finds out she has a baby who has severe spina bifida?
This is question that you need to talk to your doctor and family about.
Is it possible for a nineteen year old with spina bifida to become strong enough so they do not need to wear leg braces anymore?
It depends on how much feeling and control you have of your feet and legs. I too have Spina Bifida, I'm 42 and as a child I walked on crutches, am now in a wheelchair, more due to arthritis than Spina Bifida. I say, go for it! If you feel you can do it, perhaps it is possible to get out of the braces, if you can stand properly without them. But you might want to talk to your orthopedic doctor about whether or not it's a feasible idea.
How does spina bifida affect a child emotionally?
Spina Bifida can affect the family, because the person that has it is most likely going to have a shorter life span. It also might affect them because they have to take care of the person, and watch them be disabled. Spina Bifida no longer is necessarily going to affect the lifespan. There are treatments for it now that can give the person a normal lifespan. They may need help in some ways from the family, but if they are cared for by themselves and/or family as well as physicians properly, they should have a normal lifespan.
Can Spina Bifida spread?
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.It does not seem to be inherited. But if it runs in the family, your doctor should be told this. He should up the dose of Folic Acid.
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.
