Affected Child example essay topic

296 words
Congenital hydrocephaly is one of the most common central nervous system anomalies. Hydrocephaly is and enlargement of the head caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid makes the brain tissue to shrink and the head to enlarge. Congenital hydrocephaly is heterogeneous in origin.

The defect can be associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Some cases seem to be linked to the X chromosome. About 1/4 of the infants with this also have spina bifida, and kids with spina bifida 80% have hydrocephaly. Most congenital hydrocephaly cases have additional birth defects such as congenital heart disease and cleft lip or plate. Hydrocephaly can be detected prenatally by ultrasound.

One study reported racial ethnic differences in hydrocephaly rates, with the race being highest for Native Americans, followed by African Americans, whites, Asians, and Hispanics. Hydrocephaly risk to be lower among infants of Vietnamese mothers when compared with infants of non-Hispanic white mothers. Parental age does not clearly seem to affect risk of having a child with hydrocephaly. Hydrocephaly has been associated with lower birth weights and growth retardation. A woman who has had one child with hydrocephaly has a recurrence risk of 1 out of 5 of having another affected child. Maternal smoking dose not appear to affect hydrocephaly rates.

Another study has found no relationship between parental occupation of farmer and hydrocephaly prevalence; however, the study suggested increased hydrocephaly risk with parental pesticide exposure. A study reported an increased rate of hydrocephaly among infants born to women with obesity but who were not diabetic. Living in proximity to hazardous waste sites has not been found to affects risk of hydrocephaly. Hydrocephaly does not appear related to water chlorination.