Birth Defects

A birth defect is a mental or physical problem that results in an error in the way bone, brain, skin or tissue developed. A disorder may or may not be inherited, ie. passed from parent to child through genes and chromosomes.

Follow the links below to find information about birth defects, including cleft lip and palate, spina bifida, congenital heart defects and syndromes.

For individual disorders and syndromes, follow the link to the specific topic below.

Reviewed January 2008

 

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Related HealthInsite Topics
Chromosome Defects
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about chromosome defects, including Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.
Cleft Lip and Palate
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on cleft lip and palate.
Congenital Heart Defects
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about congenital heart defects.
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Marfan Syndrome
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on Marfan Syndrome.
Spina Bifida
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about spina bifida, which is a neural tube defect.
Urogenital Defects
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about birth defects that effect the urinary and genital systems.
45 Resources Found
Results 1 to 20 displayed.
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Title:   Genetic services in Victoria
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Genetic services in Victoria cover diagnosis, screening and testing, counselling, education, clinical research and the ongoing management of individuals and families with particular birth defects and genetic disorders
Date:   Sep 2008
Title:   Tongue-tie
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Tongue-tie is caused by a short frenum that restricts tongue movement. The frenum is a string of tissue found under the tongue. The medical name for tongue-tie is ankyloglossia.
Date:   Jul 2008
Title:   Syringomyelia
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Syringomyelia is the formation of a cyst in the spinal cord. As the cyst grows, it presses on the spinal cord and interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses. Causes include trauma, infection and congenital (from birth) brain defects.
Date:   Jul 2008
Title:   Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is the name used to describe a range of ways a baby's hip might not develop normally.
Date:   Jul 2008
Title:   Amniocentesis
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Amniocentesis is a medical procedure performed on a pregnant woman to withdraw a small amount of amniotic fluid from the sac surrounding her baby. Amniocentesis can detect foetal abnormalities such as Down's syndrome or spina bifida.
Date:   May 2008
Title:   Teeth - gapped teeth
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Fraenula are strings of tissue found underneath the tongue, inside the cheeks near the back molars, and under the top lip. The top lip fraenum can cause gapped teeth if it attaches too low on the gum.
Date:   May 2008
Title:   Congenital anomalies in Australia 2002-2003
Publisher:   Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Description:   This is the third report in a new revised series on congenital anomalies. This report provides national information on selected congenital anomalies from 2002-2003. Information on induced abortions with congenital anomalies is also presented for some jurisdictions.
Date:   May 2008
Title:   Developmental hip dysplasia explained
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Developmental dysplasia of the hip(DDH), means that the hip joint of a newborn baby is dislocated or prone to dislocation. DDH affects one in 600 girls and one in 3000 boys. Treatment includes special harnesses, or operations and splints.
Date:   Apr 2008
Title:   Maternal serum screening
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The maternal serum screening test (MSS) is a blood test offered to pregnant women. The test helps to determine the risk of certain abnormalities that may affect the unborn child, including chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome and Edward syndrome, and neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Date:   Mar 2008
Title:   Risk of invasive breast cancer in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero - NBOCC position statement
Publisher:   National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)
Description:   Risk of invasive breast cancer in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero: A review of the evidence. A position statement from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC)
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Antipsychotic drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Publisher:   Australian Prescriber
Description:   There are limited data on the safety of antipsychotic drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Reports of congenital abnormalities in the babies of women taking typical antipsychotics are uncommon, although chlorpromazine may cause symptoms in the neonate. No increased risk with atypical antipsychotics has yet emerged.
Date:   Dec 2007
Title:   Birth defects in Victoria 2003 to 2004
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU) runs the Victorian Birth Defects Register. This register collects information on all infants born in Victoria since 1983 and determines how often birth defects occur.
Date:   Oct 2007
Title:   Ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   A common complication for very preterm (premature) or very small babies is PDA (patent ductus arteriosus). PDA is an open channel between the lungs and heart. It should close after birth, but sometimes remains open because of the baby's premature stage ...
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Thyroid disease in children
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Learn about the signs, symptoms and treatment of thyroid disease in children.
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Births in Victoria 2003-2004
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU) creates and maintains a database on perinatal (birth) outcomes and birth defects to improve the health of mothers and babies in Victoria.
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Neuronal intestinal dysplasia
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Neuronal intestinal dysplasia (NID) is characterised by the unusually slow passage of waste through the large intestine, which leads to chronic problems such as constipation and uncontrollable soiling. The cause is abnormalities of nerves that service the large intestine.
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Breastfeeding - when babies won't feed
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Some new babies take a while to learn how to attach to the breast and feed effectively. Others feed well at first, then become fussy. These problems can be very distressing; seek help if these ideas do not help.
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Birth defects - drugs and medications
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Certain drugs such as alcohol, some illegal drugs, and some prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Drugs that can cause birth defects are called 'teratogens'. A teratogen is a substance that interferes with the normal development of a foetus.
Date:   Jul 2007
Title:   Myotonic dystrophy
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Myotonic dystrophy is the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy. Myotonic dystrophy is caused by a defective gene.
Date:   Jun 2007
Title:   Tongue-tie
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   There are widely differing views about tongue-tie, its effects on feeding (especially breastfeeding) and speech, and whether and how it should be treated.
Date:   Jun 2007
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