Cleft lip and Palate

Cleft lip and Palate

Cleft lip or cleft palates is a problem in which there is a deformed facial structure. There is an opening split at the roof of the mouth or the upper lip(CDC). This is the most common birth defect(NIDCR). 1 in 5 children has a cleft palate(KidsHealth) 700 babies are born with cleft lip or cleft palates annually in the USA(WebMD). The USA is the fourth country with this most common birth defect(KidsHealth). The lifetime cost for the child born every year with this disease is $697 million dollars(NIDCR). But how does this happen to the child, what is the effect on the child, and the surgery process?

What really happens to the baby when in the mother's stomach? Usually, during the 6th-10th week, the baby begins to develop tissues and bones of the babies upper jaw(KidsHealth). It's when the babies mouth and nose began to come together(KidsHealth). If something goes wrong during this process the child will develop cleft lip or palate(KidsHealth). Doctors have yet to clearly understand why this is happening, so far they have come to two conclusions.(KidsHealth). One of the factors can be genetics this is when the father, and the mother pass on genes that may cause a cleft lip or palate(KidsHealth). This is not the only conclusion doctors have come to they think the environment may even play a huge role in this issue(KidsHealth). While the mother is pregnant they may put their baby at risk if they take any medications or come in direct contact with any chemicals(KidsHealth). It’s very important to get the mother enough nutrition(KidsHealth). During pregnancy, if the mother takes drugs, smoke, or drink alcohol this risks the child to have a birth defect(KidsHealth). If a mother in the first week of her pregnancy has 4 or more alcoholic drinks in a row they increase the chance of a baby having cleft lip or palate(KidsHealth). After the child is born they will face multiple challenges in life.

What are the effects on the child who has a cleft lip or palate? Children who have this problem usually struggles with eating, breathing, or speech development(netdoctor). They might even have problems with feeding or even have ear infections and ear fluid(CDC). As the child gets older they may have trouble with hearing or even have issues with their teeth(Mayo Clinic). If the cleft gets all the way to the upper gum it might affect the child’s tooth development(Mayo Clinic). It may even be difficult to swallow food or even cause the food or liquid to come out of the nose(Mayo Clinic). This problem leaves the child to adjust to his or her medical condition. A child may even have heart defects, physicals problems including weakness in the muscles and growth disorder(KidsHealth). Even though a teen may have been treated with this issue they still face problems as they grow up. Teens with this problem will have dental problems such as missing or badly organized teeth or even cavities(KidsHealth). They might have an ear infection or it’s even likely that they may have hearing loss(KidsHealth). There is a possibility that the child may have continuous infections and fluid build up(KidsHealth). Teens might even have trouble pronouncing words(KidsHealth). Some of these problems might need to be corrected by surgery.

Surgery is a scary thing and children with a cleft lip of palates need multiple surgeries to correct their problems. How much surgery a child might need depends on person to person(chop) If they have a full cleft palate and lip they might need several surgeries to correct issues like this(chop). When the child has the surgery it usually depends on medical urgency. A cleft palates have a huge team of doctors consisting of a geneticist, a plastic surgeon, an otolaryngologist, an oral surgeon, a dentist, an orthodontist, a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, a social worker, and a psychologist or therapist(KidsHealth). The final surgery a child might have would be a touch-up surgery and this surgery usually happens once the child is around 18 years of age(chop). This is because the person with this problem must reach skeletal maturity(chop). The surgery is needed to correct scars irregularities may also be performed at this time(chop).  

Cleft lip and palates is a problem that faces some children. As the years go by doctors are getting even better at solving issues like this. From what happened to the child, effects on the child, and the surgery process. Some children might have trouble with coping with there medical condition. A child might feel stress of intensive care and might face emotional problems, behavioral problems, or social issues. But, through surgery things will be resolved and the child will be like all the other kids.