Birth Defect News

Progress Made in Estimating Frequency of Birth Defects

Among the 18 major birth defects studied, orofacial clefts (cleft lip and cleft palate) were the most common birth defect in the United States, affecting an estimated 6,800 infants annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates released in its journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Major birth defects are conditions that are present at birth and have a serious, adverse impact on health, development or functional ability.

The condition with the second highest prevalence was Down syndrome, which affects about 5,500 infants a year. Among the 18 major birth defects selected for this study, each of 10 different types of birth defects affected more than 1,000 babies per year.

“Birth defects are a leading cause of death in the first year of life,” said José Cordero, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “With more accurate estimates of how often and where birth defects are occurring, we hope to learn more about how we can prevent them. With improved information, we can better plan for and address the health and education needs of children with birth defects.”

If you or anyone you know has experienced the results of a birth defect or any other kind of medical malpractice, please contact us. We are here to help you.

	Did You Know?
	Risk For Having A Baby With A Birth Defect May Increase As A Woman Gets Older Women who are 35 years of age or older have a greater chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. Of the known causes of mental retardation, Down syndrome is the most common. It affects about 1 in 800 births. Down syndrome happens when there is an extra chromosome 21 (“trisomy 21”). Scientists have not proven that other birth defects, genetic or otherwise, are linked to the mother’s age.