anencephaly

Anencephaly

Abnormality (25)
Anencephaly (8)

Synopsis: 5. medicine & health: 1. diseases: Diseases: Abnormalities: Anencephaly:

Livescience_2013 01111.txt

when a local hospital alerted the state health department to an unusually high number of babies born with a rare birth defect called anencephaly in

The investigators identified 23 women in a three-county area whose babies had anencephaly between January 2010 and January 2013.

The anencephaly rate was more than 8 per 10000 births which is four times higher than the national average of one or two cases in every 10000 births according to the report.

whose babies had birth defects similar to anencephaly with a control group of 108 women living in the same counties

Examining medical records the researchers looked at possible risk factors for anencephaly including family history women s weight before pregnancy their occupations their smoking

and those affected by anencephaly according to the report. Babies born with anencephaly are missing parts of the brain

and are usually blind deaf and unconscious. If the babies are not stillborn they usually die within hours of birth.

Anencephaly occurs during the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy. The U s. Preventive Services Task Forcerecommends women ensure their diet includes folic acid (B9 vitamin) an essential nutrient that people need to consume through foods or supplements.

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