Congenital defects among newborn common

At least two to three percent of newborn babies worldwide have congenital abnormalities, a medical specialist said yesterday.

"In general terms, what they found in both Western and Asian literature, two to three percent of born babies have some major anomalies regardless of the cause," Dr. Beda Espineda, president of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Surgeons, said in a health forum yesterday.

Espineda cited that of 1,000 babies born in one month, two to three percent — about 30 babies — are born with major anomalies, 80 percent of which are life-threatening or need immediate surgery.

Espineda said women with high-risk pregnancies are advised to give birth in perinatal centers so specialists can immediately conduct the appropriate corrective surgery after they give birth.

Among these perinatal centers are the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the Philippine General Hospital.

Espineda said three of the most common congenital anomalies are imperforate anus; Hirschprung’s disease, which causes intestinal obstruction; and inguinal hernias or luslos in the vernacular.

Imperforate anus or anal atresia is "a congenital malformation in which the large intestine ends blindly," with the anus either absent or in the wrong place.

Hirschprung’s disease is "a congenital abnormality or birth defect of the bowel in which there is absence of the ganglia or nerves in the wall of the bowel. Nerves are missing, starting at the anus and extending a variable distance up the bowel. The result is massive enlargement of the bowel above the point where the nerves are missing."

Research showed that Hirschprung’s disease is the most common cause of lower intestinal blockage or obstruction among newborn babies. Later in infancy and childhood, the disease is a cause of chronic constipation.

The most common symptoms of the disorder are vomiting, constipation, distention or swelling of the abdomen, and intestinal obstruction.

Reports also showed that more boys than girls are born with Hirschprung’s disease, at a ratio of four to one.

Meanwhile, Dr. Delfin Cuajungco, a pediatric surgeon affiliated with the University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and the National Children’s Hospital, said 80 to 90 percent of surgery to correct these congenital defects are successful.

"The reason why babies (with congenital anomalies) die is because they have heart problems, usually they are the ones who die. For example, (if) there is only one problem then there is a higher chance of survival," he said.

Cuajungco said compared to developing countries like Canada, there is a higher prevalence of Filipino babies born with congenital anomalies because the Philippines does not allow abortion.