Spina+Bifida

Megan Slimmer Ms. Beatty 1st Block Biology Honors

**Spina Bifida (Cleft Spine or Open Spine)**  An average of 70,000 people in the United States aloe are curently living with this most common, permanently disabling birth defect. There are about 65 million women at risk of having a child who will suffer from spina bifida. Everyday about 8 births are affected by this defect, averaging about 30,000 a year.

Spina bifida is a developmental birth defect affecting the spinal column, Spina bifida occurs when the fetus is growing in the womb and the baby's spine doesn't form correctly.Some of the bones in the spine don't close to make their normal circles around the spinal cord. Only in the more severe cases does this defect affect the spinal cord. This defect is the most common in the group of defects known as neural tube defects, which affect the central nervous system.
 * Definition **

Spina bifida begins in the womb when the tissues that form the neural tube do not close or do not stay completly closed. This happens in the first few weeks after conception, usually before the woman even realizes she is pregnant.

-Spina Bifida occulta This is when a tiny opening is left open. This type normally cause mild to no symptoms, and is normally discovered accidetally. -Spina Bifida cystica-meningocele This is when a big enough opening is left so that the membrane sticks through the opening, this creates a lump or cyst. Often this lump is invisible through skin and cause no problems. Only if the canal is cleft the cyst may expand and come to the surface. This type is very uncommon. -Spina Bifida cystic-myelomeningocele This is the most serious type in which some of the spinal cord sticks out through the opening. This type also involves neurological problems the can even be fatal. Spina bifida cystic-myelomeningocele accounts for 94% of spina bifida cases reported.
 * Types of Spina Bifida **

**Inheritance** Spina bifda is a multifactoral disorder because both heredity and enviromental factors contribute to this disorder. Some of these enviromental factors include nutrition and exposure to harmful substances. However, spina bifida does not seem to run in families, but having on child with this disorder increases chancs of having another by another 80%.

**Who does it affect?** Spina bifida is more common amond Hispanics and Whites, and is less common among Asians and African- Americans. 95% of babies born with this disorder have no family history of spina bifida.

**Prevention** The only known way to prevent spina bifida is for the mother to have adequate folic acid levels before and during pregnancy, and is only about 70% effective. The need for folic acid increases during periods of rapid growth. A perfect example is the development of the feus in a mother's womb. The most critical need for folic acid occurs in the first four weeks of pregnancy. All women are advised to take a folic acid supplement, planning to become pregnant or not because the majority of pregnancies are not planned.

**Detection** Many prenatal tests can be preformed to detect spina bifida. The major tests include the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test, an ultrasound, and an amniocentesis test. A high amount of AFP being produced by the baby is an indication of spina bifida. Also many ultrasounds can detect the disorder. In an amniocentesis test a sample of the amniotic fluid in the womb is tested for AFP levels. Most of these tests are preformed between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy.

**Symptoms** -Disabilities include varying degreese of paralysis, deformaties, and control of bladder and bowels -Hydrocephalus, which is a fluid buildup in the brain, affects about 90% of people with this disorder. Mental retardation sometimes occurs. -Obesity due to inactivity -Urinary track infection due to poor drainage -Pathological bone fractures occur in about 25%, due to weakness and disease in the bones -Growth hormone deficiency resulting in short stature -Psychlolgical, social, and even some sexual problems can occur -Allergy to latex, which can even become fatal -Many learning disorders For the majority of the symptoms with treament and some physical therapy the persom can lead a normal life.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">**Treament** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Treament of this disease depends on the severity of the condition. There is no cure for this disorder but different procedures can assist with the complicatons which can include surgery, medicine, and physical therapy. The opening left in the spine can usually be closed surgically even before birth. The option of closeing the spine before birth is usually the path taken because this reduces the effects on the body. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">**Life Expectancy** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The outlook of people with spina bifida has changed dramaticall over the years. A study done in 2001 showed that with approprite care at least 75% of children born with the most severe kind of spina bifida most likely survive until early adult years. Unfortunetly, once the person reaches adulthood care becomes even more difficult. Thanks to new medical treament and technology most people born with this disorder can lead a normal life including having careers, getting married, and even having children. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-Alexander, Micheal. "Spina Bifida". Kids Health. October 2008. April 21, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[|http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/spina_bifida.html#] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">. -Foster, Mark. "Spina Bifida". Emedicine Health. October 31, 2005. April 21, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[] -"Spina Bifida". Medicine Plus. April 14, 2010. April 21, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-"About Spina Bifida". Spina Bifida Associaton. 2009. April 21, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-Kuger, Mary. "Spina Bifida". Rare Diseases. June 21, 2008. April 21, 2010. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
 * Sources**