Spina bifida: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

x

Definition

What is spina bifida?

Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord are not properly formed.

This disorder is one of the types of neural tube defects and occurs when the fetus is 3-4 weeks old in the womb.

Normally, the fetal neural tube will form early in pregnancy. Then it will close at the 28th week of the fetus.

In babies born with this condition, the neural tubes don't close completely. This often results in damage to the spine and spinal cord.

The severity of this condition depends on various things, such as:

• The size and location of the gaps in the spine.
• The type of spina bifida experienced by the fetus.
• Affects the spinal cord nervous system or not.

Spina bifida is a condition that can cause physical impairments and cognitive development in children, ranging from mild to severe.

How common is this condition?

Spina bifida is a relatively rare health condition and is estimated to occur in 5-10 percent of the population without knowing it. This figure is equivalent to 1 case per 1000 births.

One of the most serious and quite dangerous types of this condition is myelomeningocele. This condition only occurs in 1 in 2000 pregnancies.

Type

What are the different types of spina bifida?

Spina bifida is a condition that is divided into several types with different sizes, locations and severity. Here's the explanation:

1. Spina bifida occult

In language, "occult" means hidden. The occult type is the lightest and is in the form of a gap or small space between the vertebrae of the spine.

Of all cases of spinal deformities, as many as 15 percent have occult types. This type is generally harmless and does not show physical symptoms.

In fact, sometimes the spinal cord is not damaged at all.

Usually, this condition is only realized accidentally while undergoing another examination test. However, in some cases, people with the occult type feel pain.

2. Spina bifida meningocele

Meningocele type, including those that are quite rare. In this type, the membrane or membrane that protects the spinal cord is pushed out of the spine and penetrates the skin.

Furthermore, the membrane that is already on the surface of the skin will form a tissue like a sac filled with fluid. However, usually this sac tissue does not contain spinal nerves.

Therefore, this condition is not harmful to the nerves, although it can sometimes lead to certain complications.

Babies with meningocele usually have normal nerve structure and function.

That is why this condition can be treated with surgery which may cause little or no damage to the nerves. Even so, this type of meningocele is rare.

3. Spina bifida myelomeningocele

Myelomeningocele type is the most dangerous and very rare. Much like the meningocele type, a fluid-filled sac comes out of the spine.

However, this sac contains a portion of the spinal cord that has been damaged.

This type of myelomeningocele can cause moderate to severe fetal defects. Some of these include difficulty passing stools (constipation), numb legs, and difficulty walking.

In addition, about 70-90 percent of children born with this condition have excess fluid in the brain, putting them at risk for brain damage.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of spina bifida?

The symptoms and signs of these spinal disorders vary widely. The following are signs and symptoms of this type of disease:

1. Occult

Occult generally does not damage the spinal nervous system, you usually will not find signs or symptoms that are meaningful.

Babies born with this condition will display the following physical symptoms:

• A crest or patch of hair appears on the back.
• Dimples or birthmarks on the affected part of the body.

There are only a few cases of the occult-type spina bifida.

2. Meningocele

The most easily seen symptom of the spina bifida meningocele is the appearance of a fluid-filled sac-shaped tissue on the back.

3. Myelomeningocele

Similar to the meningocele, this type can also be identified by the presence of a fluid-filled sac on the back.

Some of the symptoms that people with spina bifida myelomeningocele may experience, such as:

• Enlargement in the head due to fluid buildup in the brain
• Cognitive and behavioral changes
• Decreased body energy
• The body becomes stiffer
• Difficulty urinating or defecating
• Cranial nervous system disorders
• Back pain

Apart from the symptoms that have been mentioned above, here are some other signs and symptoms that may be seen:

• Sluggish body
• Decreased appetite
• Slowing body development
• Wheezing or wheezing (d heezing )
• Unruly body movements

There are also some cases that report the appearance of symptoms of difficulty sleeping, swelling of the nerves in the eye, and disruption of the body's nervous system.

Some cases of this type of spina bifida also experience difficulty swallowing and the eyeballs move uncontrollably (nystagmus).

When should I see a doctor?

If your baby has signs or symptoms of birth defects or has other questions, consult a doctor immediately.

Each child will likely show different signs and symptoms from one another.

Cause

What causes spina bifida?

Until now, experts still don't agree on the exact cause of this one birth defect.

It is possible that this condition could be caused by various factors, such as heredity, race, and environmental influences.

Here are a few things that can cause spina bifida:

• Lack of folic acid intake
• Nutrition during pregnancy (iron, magnesium, and vitamin B3)
• Genetics and family history
• Diabetes
• Medicines (such as valproate, which is used to treat epilepsy)

The above is the cause of this spinal disorder.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for this condition?

Although it is not known exactly what causes and triggers spina bifida, experts believe there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this medical condition.

• Race (most common in Caucasians and Hispanics 2 and 1.96 cases per 10,000 births)
• Female gender
• Conditions during pregnancy (experienced fever, increased body temperature, using a sauna)
• Nervous system disorders in mother
• Family history
• Taking drugs (such as anti-seizure drugs, valproic acid which affects the absorption of folic acid)
• Diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
• Obesity during pregnancy
• Lack of folic acid

Folate or vitamin B9 is very important for the development of the fetus in the womb. Its synthetic form, or what is commonly known as folic acid, is often found in supplements.

Pregnant women who don't consume enough folic acid have the potential to give birth to babies with neural tube defects.

If you have risk factors for spina bifida, talk to your doctor about whether you need a larger dose of folic acid supplements, even before pregnancy begins.

If you are taking medication, tell your doctor. Several medications can be adjusted to reduce the risk of spina bifida.

Complications

What are the complications caused by spina bifida?

Children with the most severe type of spina bifida often have problems with the spine and brain that cause serious problems, such as:

• The child walks late or has difficulty walking
• Problems with urination and bowel function, such as bed-wetting or difficulty defecating.
• Hydrocephalus in children is a buildup of fluid in the hydrocephalus brain
• Crooked spine, such as scoliosis

For hydrocephalus in children, even if it has been treated, it can cause seizures, learning disabilities, or vision problems.

Meanwhile, children who walk late may not feel anything in their feet or hands.

This makes him unable to move his feet and hands and impaired motor development of the child.

Diagnosis

How is spina bifida diagnosed?

Spina bifida can be diagnosed during pregnancy or when a newborn is born. Occult-type spina bifida may not be diagnosed until late childhood or adulthood, and may never be diagnosed.

1. Diagnosis during pregnancy

During pregnancy, there are several screening tests (prenatal tests) to check for spina bifida and other birth defects.

Talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you have about this prenatal test.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test

AFP is a protein that is produced by a prospective baby before birth. This is a simple blood test that measures how much AFP is transferred into the mother's bloodstream from the baby.

High AFP levels may mean your child has spina bifida. The AFP test can be part of a "triple screen" test that looks for neural tube defects and other problems.

Ultrasound test

In some cases, doctors can see if the baby has spina bifida or if there is a high level of AFP through an ultrasound test. These birth defects can often be seen on an ultrasound test.

Amniocentesis

In this aminocentesis test, the doctor can take a sample of the amniotic fluid in the uterus. An AFP level that is above average may mean that the baby has this condition.

2. Diagnosis after the baby is born

Doctors can use scans such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to get clear images of the baby's spine.

It's not uncommon for spina bifida to go undiagnosed after the baby is born. This is because the mother does not receive prenatal care or the ultrasound does not show clear images of the affected part of the spine.

Medicine & medication

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat spina bifida?

Not everyone with spina bifida has the same needs, so treatment will be different for each individual.

People with spina bifida myelomeningocele and meningocele types, will require more intensive care than those with occult types.

Babies with severe spina bifida will need surgery to repair the fissures during the first 2 days after birth.

Some doctors do not use surgery and allow the area to improve on its own.

Operations performed while the baby is in the womb have been performed, but this type of surgery is still rare.

After surgery, the doctor will provide a specific newborn care plan.

The doctor will update the treatment plan as your child grows up.

A range of treatments can include:

1. Treatment of spina bifida

Babies who have spina bifida may need a hollow tube (shunt) which is attached to remove excess fluid from the brain into the stomach

2. Physiotherapy

As your child grows older, daily exercises to keep their legs strong will help them become independent and able to walk on their own.

3. Controlling the child's urinary system

Children will find it difficult to control the urge to urinate so that they can wet and defecate suddenly.

This makes the baby's stool messy.

With medical treatment and routine evaluation, it is hoped that this can reduce complications that may occur.

4. Treatment for other complications

You need to prepare special equipment for people with spina bifida, such as a shower chair or crutches to help you walk.

Home remedies

What are the home treatments for this condition?

Treatment for children with the condition spina bifida is divided according to age, starting from infants, toddlers, to school-age children.

Infants with spina bifida

In addition to treatment from doctors, caring for children born with this condition requires extra attention from parents. Here are the things that need attention.

Physical activity

Babies born with this condition will move and do activities in different ways.

It takes the help of a physical therapist who works with parents to teach how to train the baby's legs and arms.

Good for increasing strength, flexibility (flexibility), and baby movements.

Physical activity is very important for babies who have this condition. Do the exercises recommended by a physical therapist.

Take care of baby's skin

Babies who have spina bifida are also prone to skin abrasions from scratches around objects. Parents should take care of the baby's skin with care.

For example, don't let her stay out in the sun for too long, or make sure the water is warm if you want to bathe her.

In addition, reported from the CDC, most babies born with this condition experience allergies to objects or products that contain natural latex or rubber.

Health

Like babies in general, babies with spina bifida also need health services such as immunizations to increase their immunity.

Babies also need special care, such as:

• An orthopedist, who will check the health of the baby's muscles and bones.
• A urologist, who will check the health of the baby's kidneys and bladder.
• A neurosurgeon, who will check the development of the baby's brain and spine.

Toddlers and preschoolers with spina bifida

Treatments for toddlers and preschoolers with this condition include:

• Physical activity according to a therapist such as swimming
• Caring for children's skin (choose shoes according to foot size, wear sunscreen)
• Perform routine health checks for children born with spina bifida

At the same time, consult a medical expert about the care and use of catheters - for those using a wheelchair - and their hygiene.

Prevention

Can spina bifida be prevented?

Spina bifida is not known exactly what causes it, so it can be difficult to prevent this from happening.

However, you can lower your risk of birth defects by:

1. Take folic acid supplements

The amount of folic acid needed during pregnancy is about 400 mg, including to help reduce the risk of spina bifida. So, you should take a special folic acid supplement.

2. Eat foods rich in nutrients

Not only folic acid, make sure that you also eat foods that contain lots of vitamins and minerals. This will keep you from complications during pregnancy.

3. Routinely check your health condition to the doctor during pregnancy according to schedule

Make sure you always have your uterus checked regularly at the nearest health service. If you do experience a complaint, you should immediately consult a doctor.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.