Common Problems in Prenatal Development
·Down Syndrome - The most common genetic anomaly during prenatal development. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of the 21 chromosome and impacts approximately 1 out of every 1,000 infants. Typical features of Down syndrome include flattened facial features, heart defects, and mental retardation. The risk of having a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age.
·Inherited diseases - A number of illnesses can be inherited if one or both parents carry a gene for the disease. Examples of inherited diseases include Sickle-cell anemia, Cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Sachs disease. Genetic tests can often determine if a parent is a carrier of genes for a specific disease.
·Sex-Chromosome Problems - A third type of genetic problems involves sex-chromosomes. These includes conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome (an extra X-chromsome) and Turner syndrome (a single X-chromosome).
·Maternal Drug Use - Smoking is linked to low birth weight, which can result in a weakened immune system, poor respiration, and neurological impairment. Alcohol use can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which is linked to heart defects, body malformations, and mental retardation. The use of illicit psychoactive drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is also linked to low birth weight and neurological impairment.
·Maternal Disease - Herpes, Rubella, and AIDS can negatively impact the fetus. Herpes virus is one of the most common maternal diseases and can be transmitted in the fetus, leading to deafness, brain swelling, or mental retardation. Women with herpes virus are often encouraged to deliver via cesarean to avoid transmission of the virus.
·Inherited diseases - A number of illnesses can be inherited if one or both parents carry a gene for the disease. Examples of inherited diseases include Sickle-cell anemia, Cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Sachs disease. Genetic tests can often determine if a parent is a carrier of genes for a specific disease.
·Sex-Chromosome Problems - A third type of genetic problems involves sex-chromosomes. These includes conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome (an extra X-chromsome) and Turner syndrome (a single X-chromosome).
·Maternal Drug Use - Smoking is linked to low birth weight, which can result in a weakened immune system, poor respiration, and neurological impairment. Alcohol use can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, which is linked to heart defects, body malformations, and mental retardation. The use of illicit psychoactive drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is also linked to low birth weight and neurological impairment.
·Maternal Disease - Herpes, Rubella, and AIDS can negatively impact the fetus. Herpes virus is one of the most common maternal diseases and can be transmitted in the fetus, leading to deafness, brain swelling, or mental retardation. Women with herpes virus are often encouraged to deliver via cesarean to avoid transmission of the virus.
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Image of a child with down syndrome
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Image of a child receiving a breathing treatment because they have Cystic Fibrosis
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Image of a child with Rubella