what causes spina bifida / What is hidden from Spina Bifida?

What is hidden from Spina Bifida?


What is hidden from Spina Bifida?

Spina Bifida Occulta is a group of conditions that affect the spine, which is made of small bones called vertebrae. Affecting 10-20 percent of people who are otherwise healthy, Spina Bifida Occulta is relatively common and can not cause any symptoms. However, several Spina Bifida Occulta, the conditions are serious and may cause long-term health effects if left untreated.
Definition

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect that is caused by the failure of the spine to close during fetal development. Spina Bifida Occulta is the mildest form of the condition and involves the malformation of one or more vertebrae of the vertebral column. This malformation is covered by a layer of skin and does not protrude from an opening in the spine as more severe forms of Spina Bifida.
Causes

There is no specific cause for the Spina Bifida Occulta. According to the Australian Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association, parents develop an increased risk of having a child with this type of birth defect due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors. If there is a history of neural tube defects in relatives it increases a child's risk of being born with the Spina Bifida Occulta.
Signs and symptoms

According to the Spina Bifida Association of America, the symptoms of Spina Bifida Occulta include weakness and pain in the back or legs, numbness of the legs or back, deformity of the legs and feet and loss of normal bowel function or bladder. The skin defects associated with the occult of Spina Bifida are lumps of fats, hairy patches, purplish patches, deep dimples and areas of diminishing color of the skin above the position of the spinal deformity.
Diagnosis

Amniocentesis, ultrasound and an alpha-fetoprotein blood test can be used to diagnose the Spina Bifida Occulta. The amniocentesis involves inserting a needle into the uterus to collect the liquid that can be tested to determine the presence of birth defects. Spinal abnormality of Spina Bifida Occulta may be visible on an ultrasound, which is a non-invasive examination that uses sound waves to produce images of the internal structures of the body. The alpha-fetoprotein test (AFP) is a blood test that is done to determine if a fetus has produced too much alpha-fetoprotein and passed into the mother's bloodstream.
Treatment

Many children with Spina Bifida Occulta do not require treatment. For the most severe cases of the condition, the treatment focuses on how to correct the physical effects of Spina Bifida. The deformities of the legs, feet and back can be corrected with braces or surgical interventions. If the patient has hydrocephalus, which is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, a thin tube can be positioned to drain the fluid and relieve pressure on the brain.
Prognosis

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke recognizes that the prognosis for patients with the Spina Bifida occult is poor if those patients are paralyzed or have other birth defects. However, most children born with Spina Bifida Occulta also live in adulthood if they receive appropriate care for their condition.