What Are Congenital Anomalies?
Congenital anomalies are abnormalities in the body which are present at birth. These include everything from extra digits to incompletely formed brains. Also known as congenital abnormalities or birth defects, congenital anomalies are identified in around three out of every 100 births. There are a number of reasons for babies to be born with anomalies and they are not necessarily harmful or the fault of the parents.
Congenital anomalies are abnormalities in the body which are present at birth. These include everything from extra digits to incompletely formed brains. Also known as congenital abnormalities or birth defects, congenital anomalies are identified in around three out of every 100 births. There are a number of reasons for babies to be born with anomalies and they are not necessarily harmful or the fault of the parents. In fact, over half of congenital anomalies are what is known as “sporadic,” meaning that there is no known cause or risk factor. Others may be the cause of environmental exposures, ranging from medications taken during pregnancy to exposure to teratogenic chemicals at the workplace. Genetic conditions can also cause congenital anomalies, and these conditions may be spontaneous in nature or inherited.
