Taking a Look at Spina Bifida

Cerebral palsy is non-progressive but some effects of cerebral palsy on the body may change through life stages.

In Canada, a clinical study by De Wals et al was performed to assess whether or not folic acid fortification has an effect on the recurrence of NTDs (neural tube defects), especially on upper and lower birth defects called spina bifida (De Wals et al., 2008). The study was performed in three different regions in Canada: the eastern, western and central provinces (De Wals et al., 2008). Furthermore, the population of the study was conducted on three different types of births which were livebirths, stillbirths, and termination of pregnancies, and the study was carried out through three periods included prefortification, partial fortification and full fortifications (De Wals et al., 2008). The researchers followed the scientific investigation

Some theories suggest that exposure to hazardous chemicals/substances, lack of proper vitamins and nutrients in the diet, infection, prescription or illegal drug and alcohol consumption during pregnancy can affect the normal head/brain development of the fetus. Chiari malformations can affect individuals of every race and ethnicity. Studies suggest that females are affected more often compared to males. Chiari malformation is thought to be congenital, although some cases may not be discovered until adulthood (sometimes incidentally when a brain scan is done for another

Spina bifida is a birth condition characterized by the incomplete development of the spine. Many students with spina bifida are able to be educated in the general education classes. There are three different types of spina bifida and can have diverse medical and academic problems. Many students with spina bifida do not stand out from other students. A student with spina bifida will often need crutches, braces, or a wheelchair. Many of the students will also be cathererizated and will need a nurse to help with the self-catheterization. Most students with spina bifida will have average intelligence and tend to be proficient is reading and spelling. Difficulties may surface in retention of information, organization, reasoning, and impulsivity.

Spina Bifida literally means “split spine”. It is the most common permanent disabling birth defect in the United States. It happens when the brain, spinal cord do not completely develop. It is the most common neural tube defect in the United States- affecting 1500 to 2000 of more than four million babies in each year. An estimate shows 166,000 individual lives with Spina Bifida in the United States. I choose this disorder because many people do not about the effects, causes, symptoms and treatments about the disorder and I wanted to know more about spina bifida.

Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect, it happens if the spinal column of the fetus does not close completely during the first month or pregnancy, that can damage the nerves and spinal cord" (U.S National Library Medicine, 2014). Spina bifida's symptoms are defending on how severe the defect is. Children with mild form of spina bifida do not have any problems. According to WebMD, children with the most severe form often, have spine, and brain issues that cause serious problems (2014). Scientists believed that spina bifida is caused by a condition of genetic and environmental factors such as the mother's nutrition. "The long-term problems associated with spina bifida are; bowel problems, muscles movement, sensation, intellect and education, sexual function, emotional and family support (which are the most, needed on both affected person and their family), and urine and kidney problem; almost all

In 1896, Sachs gave the newly discovered disease a name: amaurotic family idiocy. Over the next decade, researchers learned more

Spina Bifida is a birth defect in which a baby’s spine fails to develop properly during pregnancy due to neural tube defects. These neural tube defects prevent the backbone from forming around the spine and closing properly. Spina Bifida can be detected during pregnancy or after birth and in

Children can go under go a countless amount of surgeries to help them work through spina bifida, however it is almost impossible for the child to get through their lives without symptoms going unnoticed. There are many different stages of spina bifida going from minor symptoms like a limp in their walk to being pretty much completely paralyzed. There have been many famous people with spina bifida such as athletes, actors, writers, and more. By sharing these famous people with children with spina bifida it will help them look at life more positively. There are ways that parents can have a better chance at avoiding spina bifida, however there is no way to completely get rid of the chances of the child having the disease. Before scientists went into research on spina bifida the children were not likely to live past a year. Spina Bifida is a horrific birth defect, and hopefully with continuing studies spina bifida average rate will continue to

First, I am going to talk about what spina bifida is. It is a congenital disability from the spine

Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. Spina Bifida happens when a baby is in the womb and the spinal column does not close all the way.There are four types of Spina Bifida, Occulta, Closed Neural tube defects, Meningocele, and Myelomeningocele. Spina Bifida Occulta is one or more vertebrae are not properly formed. In Closed Neural tube defects it consists of a diverse group of defects in which the spinal cord is marked by malformations of fat, bone, or meninges. Meningocele is spinal fluid and meninges protrude through an abnormal vertebral opening. And Myelomeningocele is the most severe and occurs when the spinal cord/neural elements are exposed through the opening in the spine, resulting

"Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect, it happens if the spinal column of the fetus does not close completely during the first month or pregnancy, that can damage the nerves and spinal cord" (U.S National Library Medicine, 2014). Spina bifida's symptoms are defending on how severe the defect is. Children with mild form of spina bifida do not have any problems. According to WebMD, children with the most severe form often, have spine, and brain issues that cause serious problems (2014). Scientists believed that spina bifida is caused by a condition of genetic and environmental factors such as the mother's nutrition. "The long-term problems associated with spina bifida are; bowel problems, hydrocephalus surgery, muscles

As a congenital malformation commonly affecting children born with Spina Bifida, the Arnold-Chiari malformation, or Chiari Malformation Type II, involves the irregular extension of both the cerebellar tonsils and the brain stem tissue into the opening to the spinal canal – the foramen magnum (NINDS, 2013). Typically, the brain stem and the cerebellum sit above the opening to the spinal canal, where the brain stem houses most of the cranial nerves that supply the body. Providing the control centres for vital bodily functions such as breathing, regulation of the body’s internal environment through maintenance of heart rate and blood pressure, as well as providing sensory and motor control to a significant portion of the body (Joynt, 2014), the Arnold-Chiari malformation causes substantial problems for patients. Likewise, the congestion of these structures in the spinal canal limits the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to the spinal cord (Medway, 2006), causing other medical issues that become regularly associated with Spina Bifida as a result, such as hydrocephalus (Columbia Neurosurgery, n.d.). Issues associated with the Arnold-Chiari malformation can only be relieved, rather than treated, through surgical processes that aim to eliminate or reduce these symptoms (WebMD, 2014).

Spina bifida, a type of birth defect meaning, “cleft spine” affects many babies around the globe in that their neural tube incorrectly closes and affects their spinal cord and brain. The three most common types of spina bifida are spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele—in the order of least to the most debilitating. The birth defect is most commonly diagnosed with the Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein blood test, as well as other tests. The complications occurring with the most severe case of spina bifida include meningitis and the Chiari II malformation. Spina bifida can be treated with a wide variety and number of surgeries such as prenatal surgery, as well as prevented by intake of folic acid. The birth defect, spina

Just as chromosomal abnormalities cause the majority of miscarriages, certain chromosomal and congenital conditions can increase the risk that a baby will be