Does Your Child have Spina Bifida?

Occasionally babies are born with a backbone which has an incomplete closing and the membranes surrounding the spinal cord are left open. This condition is known as spina bifida. There are three main types of this condition: meningocele, spina bifida occulta and myelomeningocele. Most often the lower back is affected, but there have been cases where the middle or the neck region was also without complete closing. It is believed that spina bifida is caused by the combination of certain environmental and genetic factors. If one of the parents is affected or the first child has the condition, then here is a 4% chance that the next child will also be affected.

Symptoms

There are physical as well as neurological problems related to this condition. The physical signs include:

• Abnormal movement of the eye
• Problem in controlling the bladder or the bowel
• Weakness in legs and also paralysis
• Skin irritations and pressure sores
• Orthopaedic abnormalities

Neurological signs include impaired executive function, such as difficulty in working memory, organising, planning and initiating. Problem solving skills are lacking. Also most of the children perform poorly in their academics, especially in mathematics and reading.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent the condition entirely as there are many possible reasons for its cause. But it has been observed that folic acid when given in the form of dietary supplement, reduces the incidence of the condition. Leafy vegetables and fruits, breakfast cereals, whole grains and dried beans are said to be great sources of folic acid.

Treatment

Spina bifida has no cure as of now, but the standard treatment is to have a surgery soon after the delivery. The surgery prevents further damage to the nervous tissue and also prevents infection by closing the opening present on the child’s back. The spinal cord and its roots are put back and covered in meninges.