CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE By Emma Pospisil

Introduction ■ Cleft Lip is a condition when the joining of the tissues that form the facial features, like the lips and mouth don’t completely join before birth. ■ There are some variations for the cleft lip. The opening can be a small slit or a large opening that goes up to the nose. It can also be on one or both sides of the lip or in the middle of the lip. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate.

Cleft Palate ■ The roof of the mouth or the Palate is formed between the sixth and ninth weeks of pregnancy. A cleft palate occurs when the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open and for some cases only part of the palate is open.

Causes ■ The causes of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate of most infants are unknown. ■ Some children have a cleft lip or cleft palate because of changes in their genes. It is thought to be caused by a combination of genes. ■ Some other factors during pregnancy could be: -Things the mother comes in contact with in her environment. -What the mother eats or drinks -Medications mother uses. Ultrasound at 32 weeks

Increasing Factors ■ Smoking― Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate. ■ Diabetes― Women with diabetes during pregnancy have an increased risk of having a child with a Cleft Lip with or with Cleft Palate. ■ Use of certain medicines― Women who use certain medicines to treat epilepsy, during the first trimester (the first 3 months) of pregnancy have an increased risk of having a baby with cleft lip with or with cleft palate, compared to women who didn’t take these medicines.

Symptoms/Affects ■ Problems feeding ■ Problems speaking clearly ■ May have ear infections ■ Hearing problems ■ Problems with teeth

Does it spread? ■ The cause is often unknown, but family history of cleft lip or cleft palate increases the child's risk of developing one. ■ When a baby inherits a cleft gene from one of their parents, this mixed with environmental trigger can interfere with the proper formation of the baby's lip. ■ What the mother consumes during pregnancy, including drugs and alcohol, can cause cleft lip or palate.

Treatment ■ Surgery to repair a cleft lip usually occurs in the first few months of life and is recommended within the first 12 months of life. ■ Many children will need additional surgical procedures as they get older. ■ Surgical repair can improve the look and appearance of a child’s face and might also improve breathing, hearing, speech and language development. ■ Children born with clefts might need other types of treatments, such as special dental or orthodontic care or speech therapy.

SURGE RY

Before and After ■ https: //youtu. be/T 1 h. Re. HUj. Tv 8

JOSHUA’ S STORY

Joshua’s Story ■ Joshua Aiden, 3, was born with a cleft lip and palate. Other than the fact that he looked different, he was just like any other healthy baby. He had his first surgery at only 3 months old. Surgeons repaired his lip. But, after only three days, the stitches starting coming out and his lip reopened. Joshua had over 14 heartbreaking surgeries over the next three years. His palate healed as planned, but not his lip.

Joshua’s Story ■ A professional baseball player named Mike Adams approached his family about Joshua and asked why his lip wasn’t repaired. The family explained the situation and he asked if he could help. Because of this, Joshua received a special surgery using a technique that had not been used on Joshua before, and this time the lip did not come apart. This has completely changed Joshua and his family’s life.

Interesting Facts ■ 2, 650 babies are born every year in the United States with a cleft palate. ■ 4, 440 babies are born every year in the United States with cleft lip. ■ One of the Most common birth defects in the United States. ■ We all start out with Cleft lips and Palates, but during the natural course of action the clefts fuse together. ■ Clefts occur most commonly in children of Asian, Latino, or Native American descent. ■ Twice as many boys have a cleft lip than girls, but girls are twice as likely to have a cleft palate with a normal lip

References ■ “Facts about Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate. ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 12 Nov. 2015, www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/cleftlip. html. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017. ■ Pleis, Donna. “Is Cleft Lip Genetic? ” Is Cleft Lip Genetic? , 14 Sept. 2015, www. colgate. com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/cleft-lip-palate/article/is-cleft-lip -genetic-0915. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017. ■ Jeff Hayward. “ 6 Medical Facts on Cleft Palate or Cleft Lip. ” Active. Beat, 7 ADAD, www. activebeat. com/your-health/children/6 -medical-facts-on-cleft-palate-or-cleft -lip/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2017.

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