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Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida, the most severe form of which is known as myelomeningocele, is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. Recent research indicates a connection between Spina Bifida and a deficiency of folic acid in the diet of the mother.
300 Questions
Children with Spina Bifida can have gastrointestinal problems such as slow digestion and constipation which can cause problems with appetite, because there is not enough room for more food when the constipation is taking up room. They tend to be shorter than average, although not all are, largely because of having shorter legs than normal, although the trunk length can be affected, depending on how high their defect is in the spine. The smelly urine can be a sign of bladder infection and should be checked out by a urologist or pediatrician. Bladder infections are common with people with Spina Bifida.
What foods are better tolerated by a young adult with Spina Bifida gastrointestinal problems?
Any non-acidic, mild foods would be better tolerated. But you do of course need a certain amount of Vitamin C in your diet, so it would be helpful to consult your physician about your dietary needs.
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.
Does Spina Bifida generate from the mother or father of the infant?
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.
Who is the patron saint of spina bifida?
There is not a Patron Saint of spina bifida. However, the Saint for those with disabilities and spinal issues is St Gemma Galgani.
Occulta means hidden. Spina Bifida Occulta has very few outward signs, other than sometimes a dimple or tuft of hair at the site on the skin.
What has been shown to cause rapid speciation?
1) Hybridization
2) Differential resource exploitation
3) Sexual selection
4) Allopolyploidy
Basically all of the above.
Spina bifida is associated with?
1. Paralysis of legs/feet 2. Hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
3. Lack of bowel and bladder control
4. Learning disabilities caused by the hydrocephalus
5. Latex allergy due to the baby being handled by persons wearing rubber gloves when the child is very young; this can sometimes be prevented by using non-latex gloves.
Explain to the child that the classmate has some things wrong with his body, some parts don't work right, and he is a big boy just like him, but can't tell when he has to go to the bathroom. Tell the child that it is all right to play with him, and that he would probably like to be friends.
The related link below has a short story about a child with Spina Bifida. Perhaps you can share it with the child.
What is the difference between lumbarization and spina bifida occulta?
Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs where the coverings around the cord do not close. Lumbarization is also a birth defect and a non-fussion of the bony vertebra of the lumbar spine and sacrum. It is said not to cause any pain unless the joints there have been over used. The pain or discomfort will be the same as for anyone else.
Is Nuera another name for Spina Bifida?
No, "Nuera" is not another name for Spina Bifida. Myelomeningocele is another name for Spina Bifida.
This is question that you need to talk to your doctor and family about.
What is the form of Spina Bifida in which the meninges protrude?
Meningocele is a form of Spina Bifida in which the meninges protrude from the back. Myelomeningocele is when the meninges and part of the spine protrude from the back.
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.
What is the pathophysiology of folic acid anemia?
Folic acid anemia is a known risk factor for neural tube birth defects.
How do Agent Orange and Spina Bifida go together?
On May 28, 1996, President Bill Clinton announced Agent-Orange Related Disability Benefits for Vietnam Veterans including prostate cancer and the neurological disorder peripheral neuropathy are entitled to disability payments based upon their exposure to Agent Orange. He went on to say his administration will also propose to congress, legislation to meet the needs of veterans' children afflicted with the birth defect spina bifida-the first time the children of American soldiers have received benefits for combat-related health problems.
October 1, 1997, the Spina Bifida Health Care Programprovides health benefits for Vietnam veterans' birth children diagnosed with spina bifida. Only 22 years after the conflict came to an end and 28 years after studies linked chemicals in Agent Orange to birth defects in laboratory animals.
This was followed by coverage for children born to female members of the Armed Forces who were stationed in Vietnam the same years their male counterparts. The coverage offers a wider variety of birth defects as long as there is no family history and they are not caused by alcohol abuse. Sadly this is still excluding a very large number of children born missing limbs, with severe deformities and a high rate of childhood cancers, whose parents are convinced was do to the fathers being exposed to Agent Orange, dioxins and similar chemicals.
December 16, 2003, the Spina Bifida Health Care Program provides health benefits for Korea veterans' birth children diagnosed with spina bifida."
"The birth defects of children of women Vietnam veteransthat 1) are associated with Vietnam service; and 2) result in permanent physical or mental disability. Birth defects not included in this benefit program as those abnormalities that result from the following: 1) a familial disorder; 2) a birth-related injury, 3) a fetal or neonatal infirmity with well-established causes. The law defines the term "child" as an individual, regardless of age or marital status that is the natural child of a woman Vietnam veteran, and was conceived after the veteran first entered Vietnam."
Beginning in 1962, about 19 million gallons of herbicides were sprayed over South Vietnam to defoliate vegetation used as cover by enemy troops. In 1969, studies linked chemicals in Agent Orange to birth defects in laboratory animals use of all the defoliants was halted by 1971. However, tens of thousands of the three million Americans who served in Southeast Asia are thought to have been exposed to the chemicals.
In 1990, an independent scientific review of the literature was sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and the National Veterans Legal Services Project. Seven independent scientists and physicians on this Agent Orange Scientific Task Force concluded that elevated incidences of birth defects in the children of Vietnam veterans were found in several studies. These included spina bifida, oral clefts, cardiovascular defects, hip dislocations, and malformations of the urinary tract. In addition, defects of the digestive tract and other neoplasms such as neuroblastoma also were higher in Vietnam veterans' children. The same defects are also found in children born to the Vietnamese who were subjected to the same exposures of dioxins.
When compared to non-veterans' children the children of Vietnam veterans have shown consistent and chronic increases in ADD, LD and behavioral disorders; immune system disorders including chronic infections and childhood cancers, allergies and asthma, childhood diabetes, thyroid disorders, multiple skin disorders and abnormalities of the palate and tooth development. Ongoing studies of prenatal exposures to dioxins and similar chemicals continue to support these associations.
The following links are intended for people wanting more information on herbicides and the long term damage still being discovered and families who are in need of these services.
http://www.va.gov/
http://www4.va.gov/HAC/forbeneficiaries/spina/handbook/cwvhandbook. pdf
http://www4.va.gov/HAC/forbeneficiaries/spina/handbook/sbhandbook. pdf
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.phppid=52876&st=spina+bifida&st1=veterans
http://www4.va.gov/hac/factsheets/spina/FactSheet01-06.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16914479
The Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997 (38 U.S.C. §1805).
Public Law 110-387, Section 408
Public Law 106-419 VA
Where in the world does Spina Bifida come from?
By the phrase "Where in the world", I'm not sure if you mean where it comes from geographically, or just what is the cause of it. Geographically, it occurs in every country, and there have been studies that have found it to be more prominent in some countries, such as Ireland. As far as the cause of it, there are dietary causes sometimes, such as the mother not getting enough folic acid in her diet during her pregnancy, and there are possible hereditary causes, which have not been fully studied yet.
A small amount of folic acid is stored in the liver (about 7 mg), but this will be rapidly depleted if there is not sufficient dietary intake. The body's folic acid stores can only last a few months.
What is the most severe form of adrenoleukodystrophy?
The most severe form of adrenoleukodystrophy is known as cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD). This form primarily affects the brain and progresses rapidly, leading to severe neurological symptoms such as loss of cognitive function, movement disorders, and ultimately disability or death. Early detection and treatment are critical in managing CALD.
What trimester of pregnancy does the sternum develop?
The sternum develops somewhere between week 6 and 8, so well within the first trimester.
Can Spina Bifida effect animals?
Yes, for instance, it is known to sometimes occur in Manx cats and English Bulldogs, and can occur in other animals also. Please see the Related links below.
Do males carry gene for spina bifida?
It is not inherited. It seems to be due to the effects of several genes and the environment. This has not been proven.
My chin is 30 inches long do I have Spina Bifida?
The size of one's chin has nothing to do with Spina Bifida. If you have Spina Bifida, you would have a scar on your lower back where you had a hole when you were born, or if you have the more mild form, Spina Bifida Occulta, you might have a patch of hair or a dimple on your lower back that would indicate missing vertebrae or parts of vertebrae. Many people with Spina Bifida Occulta never know they have it.
