What Are the Different Birth Defects Causes?
A birth defect is a physical or functional abnormality that develops due to factors occurring either prior to conception or during gestation. These abnormalities can cause mental or physical challenges and sometimes death. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated three percent of infants in the United States are born with some type of birth defect. Though birth defects causes are often unknown, when they can be traced back to a source the cause is usually found to be either genetic or environmental. Genetic disorders are typically chromosomal abnormalities and environmental causes include teratogens such as drugs or alcohol, as well as infections.
