Texas Ovarian Cancer Lawyer – Texas Ovarian Cancer Lawyer
If you or a loved one is suffering from ovarian cancer caused by a hip implant, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturer. Call us today to get the facts. Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or use our online contact form and a Texas Ovarian Cancer Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer your questions and discuss your possible claim. This is a free, no obligation case review and there are no legal fees unless you receive money at the end of the case. Time is limited, so please call today.
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Birth Defects
A birth defect is a problem that occurs when a baby is still developing in the mother’s womb, which can be detected during pregnancy, at birth or during early childhood. Most birth defects occur during the first three months of pregnancy.
There are over 4000 different kinds of known birth defects, ranging from minor cases which are harmless to more severe cases that cause lifelong disabilities or require long-term medical treatment. In fact, severe birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant mortality. A birth defect may affect physical appearance, organ function, mental and physical development.
Types of Birth Defects:
Although there are many different types, birth defects can be grouped into three broad categories: structural, metabolic and functional birth defects.
- Structural defects; refers to situations where there are abnormalities in the structure of body parts. Examples of birth defects under this category include missing or abnormal limbs, cleft lip or palate, spina bifida, clubfoot, hypospadias, and heart defects like ventricular septal defect among others.
- Metabolic defects; refers to situations where there is a problem with the body’s chemistry or where the metabolic processes that take place in the body don’t work as they should. These include birth defects such as, hypothyroidism, Tay-Sachs disease, galactosaemia and phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Functional Defects; refers to situations where there are problems in how a body part or body system works, which can lead to developmental disabilities such as, Down syndrome and autistic spectrum disorders(ASDs), speech and language disabilities, behavioral disorders, and intellectual impairment among others.
Causes of Birth Defects:
Birth defects are caused by many different factors. In some cases, the specific cause of the birth defect is clear and even preventable, whereas in other instances the actual cause is unknown or has not been identified. However, it is not always possible to pinpoint the exact reason why a birth defect has occurred.
Some of the known factors which may cause birth defects include:
- Genetic disorders – where the baby inherits faulty or missing genes from the parents, even though the parents are both healthy.
- Maternal illness during pregnancy – for instance, the mother may develop infections. during pregnancy which may cause serious harm to her unborn baby.
- Excessive intake of alcohol while pregnant and smoking of tobacco.
- Drugs – Some prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy.
- Radiation exposure from x-ray machines or other sources.
- Exposure to toxic chemicals or viruses.
Treatment
Treatment options for birth defects tend to vary depending on the specific condition of the baby and the degree or severity. Some of the defects can be corrected during pregnancy (before the baby is born) or shortly after birth, but there are those which cannot be treated and hence, they may affect the child for the rest of their life.
Available treatment options include:
- Medications – Some birth defects can be treated using medication. In some instances, the medication may be prescribed to the mother during pregnancy, to help correct an abnormality before birth.
- Surgeries – There are cases where surgical procedures can be done to fix a birth defect or ease its harmful symptoms. For instance, people with structural birth defects like cleft lip, may undergo plastic surgery.
- Home Care – Parents may also be given specific instructions to follow when monitoring, bathing or feeding an infant with a birth defect.