Spina Bifida
Rachel
Spina Bifida involves incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings
Three types Meningocele, Myelomeningocele and Hydrocephalus
Its when two sides of the embryo's spine fail to join together, leaving an open area
occurs first month of pregnancy
spinal cord of other membranes may push through this opening in the back
Causes & Complications
- If a women who take the drug Valproic during pregnancy causes Spina bifida
- If a woman has a high Fever during pregnancy
- Mild defect may have no problems or symptoms
- Severe defect May have nerves coming out of the child's back or selling of the spine
- They may have nerve damage that effects daily living
- The child may have little or no feeling in the legs, arms, and feet and they not able to move those body parts
Test & Treatments
Tresting
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test is performed between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy. Ultrasound to see if a baby has Spina Bifida
- Meningocele operation during infancy
- Myelomeningocele more immediate attention often surgery within the first 1to 2 days after brith
- Hydrocephalus an operation to place a shunt in the brain
Prevention & life lookout
Prevention
- Take Folic acid everyday
- Folic acid prevents most, but not all, cases of Spina Bifida
Life lookout
- Will grow up to lead full and productive life
Work cited
"Spina Bifida - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Spina Bifida from WebMD." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
"Spina Bifida." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Joseph H. Piatt. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Oct. 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.