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What causes cleft lip and palate?

The exact causes of cleft lip and palate are unknown. In some cases it is hereditary, with parents who had a cleft lip or palate carrying a small chance of passing it onto their child, but most cases appear spontaneously. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol have been implicated as potential contributors, but the evidence is unclear. A deficiency in folic acid during pregnancy may also contribute to cleft lip and palate. Certain drugs, including some used to treat epilepsy, have also been implicated.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is cleft lip and palate?

A cleft lip and palate is a congenital condition, in which part of a baby's mouth is not joined up during foetal development, resulting in a split or open space (cleft) in the lip or palate.

What are the symptoms of cleft lip and palate?

Cleft lip appears as a split in the lip and cleft palate appears as a split in the roof of the mouth. Unlike cleft lip, cleft palate does not affect outward appearance, but still requires corrective surgery. Sometimes babies can be born with …

What are complications of cleft lip and palate?

Complications of cleft lip and palate include: 1) Feeding difficulty - babies with a cleft lip are often able to nurse, but babies with a cleft palate are not because the open roof of the mouth causes a loss of suction. 2) Dental problems - …

How is cleft lip and palate diagnosed?

Sometimes cleft lip and palate is noticed before birth during ultrasound, but the sensitivity is low so it is commonly only noticed after birth during physical examination of the newborn.

How is cleft lip and palate treated?

Various surgical techniques are used to correct cleft lip and palate. However, there is no consensus about the timing, technique, or protocol of the repair. Surgery for cleft lip is usually performed around 3 to 6 months of age and cleft palate at 9 to …

Can cleft lip and palate be prevented?

Cleft lip and palate cannot be prevented. There is some evidence that avoiding alcohol and tobacco may reduce the risk of these birth defects. Taking folic acid may also reduce the risk, but the evidence is unclear. If you are taking medication for …

How do I feed my baby with cleft lip and palate?

Babies with a cleft lip are often able to breastfeed but babies with a cleft palate are not, because the open section in the roof of the mouth results in loss of suction. Bottle-feeding is therefore recommended.

Are there different types of cleft lip and palate?

The cleft palate can have a partial or full opening, neither of which affect the outward appearance. The cleft lip can have either one or two splits in the lip. Sometimes babies can be born with both a cleft lip and palate. In these cases, …

What is the outlook for cleft lip and palate?

If your child has cleft lip and palate, the good news is that surgery can restore normal function and often results in a greatly improved cosmetic appearance.

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About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 12 Jul 2015
Last reviewed: 18 May 2018
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Votes: 1071 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Pectus excavatum

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