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Craniofacial Abnormalities

Craniofacial is a medical term that relates to the bones of the skull and face. Craniofacial abnormalities are birth defects of the face or head. Some, like cleft lip and palate, are among the most common of all birth defects. Others are very rare. Most of them affect how a person's face or head looks. These conditions may also affect other parts of the body.

Treatment depends on the type of problem. Plastic and reconstructive surgery may help the person's appearance.

Symptoms of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following features are indicative of Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • change in nose shape
  • poorly aligned teeth
  • failure to gain weight
  • feeding problems
  • flow of milk through nasal passages during feeding
  • poor growth
  • repeated ear infections
  • speech difficulties

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Common Causes of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following are the most common causes of Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • alcohol consumption
  • cigarette smoking
  • having certain medical conditions before or during pregnancy
  • being an older mother such that over the age of 34 years

Other Causes of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following are the less common causes of Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • smoking during pregnancy
  • alcohol consumption
  • diabetes
  • obesity while pregnancy

Risk Factors for Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • maternal age at conception
  • proportion of unplanned pregnancies
  • no antenatal care
  • medical condition of mother
  • rate of consanguineous marriages in the population
  • genetic disorders
  • maternal nutritional status
  • exposures to teratogens before and after conception

Prevention of Craniofacial Abnormalities

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Craniofacial Abnormalities. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoid use of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy
  • genetic counseling of expecting parents

Occurrence of Craniofacial Abnormalities

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Craniofacial Abnormalities cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Craniofacial Abnormalities most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Less than 1 year old

Common Gender

Craniofacial Abnormalities can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • Prenatal testing: To detect birth defects in baby during pregnancy
  • Diagnostic tests: To diagnose pregnancy risks, birth defects in babies during pregnancy and serious diseases in women during pregnancy
  • High resolution Ultrasound: To get more details of possible birth defects in the baby
  • Chorionic Villus Sampling: To diagnose genetic or chromosomal disorders in the baby
  • Amniocentesis: To measure baby’s protein levels to diagnose birth defects

Doctor for Diagnosis of Craniofacial Abnormalities

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • Birth defects specialist
  • Geneticist
  • Obstetricians
  • Otolaryngologists
  • Pediatricians
  • Oral surgeons
  • Pediatric dentists
  • Orthodontists
  • Nurses
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Genetic counselors
  • Speech therapists
  • Auditory specialist

Complications of Craniofacial Abnormalities if untreated

Yes, Craniofacial Abnormalities causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Craniofacial Abnormalities is left untreated:
  • can be fatal
  • hearing problems
  • speech problems
  • ear infections

Procedures for Treatment of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following procedures are used to treat Craniofacial Abnormalities:
  • Surgery: To improve speech or improve the appearance of the lip and nose
  • Gene therapy: mutated or missing gene is replaced by a normal version of the gene
  • Catheter Procedures: To repair heart defects
  • Surgery: To repair heart defects

Patient Support for Treatment of Craniofacial Abnormalities

The following actions may help Craniofacial Abnormalities patients:
  • Parents support: Helps child gain confidence to make decisions
  • Support groups: Join support group or talk to other parents that are dealing with same conditions like your child's
  • Emotional difficulties: Support your child who may feel insecure about his or her developmental difficulties

Time for Treatment of Craniofacial Abnormalities

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Craniofacial Abnormalities to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • More than 1 year

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Craniofacial Abnormalities.
Brain Malformations
Cleft Lip and Palate

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