Congenital anomalies form a heterogeneous group of pathologies of prenatal origin (the majority of low frequency, reason why usually they are considered rare diseases). They represent a public health problem, since they have a negative effect on the quality of life of those affected and their families.
The World Health Organization defines congenital anomalies (also called "birth defects") as any anomaly of morphological, functional, structural or molecular development present at birth (although sometimes it can be manifested later), external or internal, family or sporadic, hereditary or not, single or multiple.
The etiology of most congenital anomalies is unknown, probably due to an interaction of multiple biological, genetic and environmental factors. But despite this, there are prevention measures at different levels that can help prevent the disease, control it or improve the quality of life.
And it is that often these anomalies produce serious physical and / or mental disabilities, they can even lead to spontaneous abortions and cause child mortality. Let's see what are the preventive measures.
How to reduce the risk of congenital anomalies
The preventive public health measures adopted in the preconceptive and periconceptive periods and the prenatal care services reduce the frequency of some congenital anomalies. Primary prevention of congenital anomalies implies also instill healthy lifestyle habits, vaccination, prenatal care ...:
Improving the diet of women of childbearing age, ensuring a sufficient dietary intake of vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iodine, and restricting the consumption of harmful substances, in particular the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, which pose so many risks to the health of the fetus.
Specifically, taking a folic acid supplement during the preconception stage and the months of pregnancy has been associated with a decrease in congenital neuronal tube abnormalities and other congenital anomalies such as cardiac.
For its part, the iodine supplement is important because a deficiency of this element during pregnancy and early childhood can cause hypothyroxinemia that negatively affects the developing brain.
Diabetes control is necessary before conception and during pregnancy through counseling, weight control, diet and insulin administration when necessary.
In general, the preconception visit allows assessing the general health status of women, informing them to take measures such as those we are enumerating and checking their immune status on certain diseases at high risk of developing congenital anomalies (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus ...).
Couples with a history of congenital anomalies and high risk (consanguinity ...) should obtain genetic counseling.
Avoid exposure to hazardous substances, such as heavy metals, toxic chemicals or pesticides during pregnancy.
Exposure to ionizing radiation during pregnancy may pose a risk to the fetus (depending on the dose and the time of gestation).
The rational use of medicines During pregnancy it contributes to the prevention of congenital anomalies: strictly necessary medication will be prescribed by the doctor and self-medication should be completely avoided.
The mother's advanced age increases the risk of congenital abnormalities in the fetus, so earlier pregnancy planning (before age 40) would help minimize the risk.
Improving vaccination coverage, especially against the rubella virus, in girls and women. Rubella is preventable by vaccination. According to the WHO, approximately 110,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome can be prevented by timely vaccination of women during childhood and the fertile years. The flu vaccine can be given at least one month before pregnancy in women who are not yet immune.
The increase and strengthening of the training of health personnel and others interested in promoting the prevention of birth defects.
The realization of a comprehensive registry of congenital anomalies in the world would help to better understand some of them and investigate their causes and prevention.
In short, as we see congenital anomalies or birth defects they can be prevented to a large extent and at different levels, although in many countries of the world there is no access to most of the points mentioned above that minimize risks. Congenital anomalies are responsible for more than 270,000 deaths of newborns annually.
Photos | bcwood and Victor Bezrukov on Flickr-CC More information | WHO, GVA In Babies and more | Pregnancy tests: detection of chromosomal abnormalities, Vitamin B12 deficiencies can multiply the risk of congenital malformations, Congenital heart disease
