Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
FAQs
Congenital conditions and diseases are present before or at the time of the birth. About 3% to 4% of babies in the U.S. are born with acongenital conditionthat can affect their physical appearance, development, or function.There are more than 4,000 kinds of congenital conditions, ranging from minor conditions that don’t need treatment to serious ones that require medical care or surgery.
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In most cases, the cause of a congenital condition is unknown. When the cause is determined, it may be environmental, genetic, or a combination of both.
Genetic
During conception, a child gets 46 chromosomes total – 23 from one parent and 23 from the other. Those chromosomes contain the genes that determine your unique characteristics – what you look like, how you’ll grow, and how your body functions.
Sometimes even with the right number of chromosomes, a gene on the chromosome is abnormal. For some conditions, likecystic fibrosis, a child gets the same defective gene from both parents. In other conditions, like Marfan syndrome, only one parent passes on an abnormal gene.
Environmental
Infections in a pregnant person can cause serious congenital conditions in the fetus, especially during the first nine weeks of pregnancy.Those infections include:
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may causefetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause brain damage and growth problems. Some medications can also lead to birth defects when taken during pregnancy.
Always check with your healthcare provider to make sure that your medications are safe to take while pregnant.
Prenatal tests may include ultrasound, amniocentesis, or chronic villus sampling.Blood tests may also be done to screen for any risk of specific birth defects like Down syndrome andspina bifida. In some cases, a genetic test may be ordered before birth to help determine the risk of a condition.
For example, if one parent has the gene for cystic fibrosis then the other may be tested as well, since both parents must be carriers for their child to be at-risk. Tests may also be ordered to determine if a pregnant person has an infection or other medical condition that could be harmful to the fetus.
After birth, congenital conditions may be diagnosed through physical examination or blood tests. In the U.S., those screenings may vary from state to state, but all states test newborns forphenylketonuria(PKU),sickle cell disease,congenital hypothyroidism, and about 30 other conditions.
While many congenital conditions can’t be prevented, there are steps you can take to help reduce the risk. They include:
A Word From Verywell
If you are an expectant parent, talk with your healthcare provider about the risk for congenital conditions. They can help you understand screening and treatment options and provide guidance for future care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The word congenital is used to describe something that is present before or at birth. In many cases, it refers to a condition or disease that has always been part of a person’s life, such as sickle cell disease or congenital hypothyroidism.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Congenital Abnormalities. HealthyChildren.org.Nemours Foundation.Birth Defects. KidsHealth.World Health Organization.Congenital anomalies.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Congenital Abnormalities. HealthyChildren.org.Nemours Foundation.Birth Defects. KidsHealth.World Health Organization.Congenital anomalies.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Congenital Abnormalities. HealthyChildren.org.Nemours Foundation.Birth Defects. KidsHealth.World Health Organization.Congenital anomalies.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Congenital Abnormalities. HealthyChildren.org.
Nemours Foundation.Birth Defects. KidsHealth.
World Health Organization.Congenital anomalies.
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