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Birth Defects
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Birth defects or congenital abnormalities are physical or mental imperfections that occur in newly born babies. Birth defects can exist in any part of the baby's body and may affect its physical appearance. The exact cause for any defect isn't known but they are associated to the mothers exposure to chemicals (agent orange, fungicides), radiation, and teratogens. Babies whose mothers were alcohol addicts during pregnancies are born physically and mentally retarded. Alcohol can also lead to a miscarriage and premature births. Cigarette smoking is also known to cause birth defects, it contains harmful substance nicotine, which is addictive. If a poisonous substance found in tobacco, it is addictive with or without other substances contained in cigarettes crosses the placenta it causes damage to the fetus and it may have to be be aborted. If the child is born he or she may suffer mental and physical retardation as it grows up. Birth defects can also be caused through inheritance, from the parents to the child. Hemophilia is an example of birth defects that is associated with inheritance. Hemophilia is a sex-linked disease where the blood does not clot due to absence of factor VII that assist in clotting. Other diseases associated with inheritance include color blindness, cystic fibrosis, and Down's syndrome.
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Birth defects can be treated with the use of drugs and surgery. The type of treatment depends on the nature of the defect.
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