Congenital anomalies are those birth defects, disorders or malformations of this nature. These abnormalities can be both structural and functional, such is the case of metabolic disorders that occur during pregnancy or childbirth.
For these types of cases, it is almost impossible to assign a specific cause for why 50% of congenital anomalies. However, some of its causes or risk factors have been identified, among which are:
Socioeconomic and demographic factors: a family's low income may be an indirect determinant, congenital anomalies are more frequent in low-income families and countries. It is estimated that approximately 94% of such abnormalities, that is severe, occur in low-income countries, where women often lack sufficient access to nutritious food and can have a healthy pregnancy.
Genetic factors: an important factor in this factor is consanguinity, since it increases the stay of rare genetic congenital anomalies and almost doubles the risk of neonatal and infant death, as well as intellectual disability and other congenital anomalies that come out of marriages between first cousins. For example, this is why some communities of ethnic origin, such as Ashkenazi Jews or Finns, have a higher prevalence of rare genetic mutations that condition an increased risk of congenital anomalies.
Infections: Syphilis and rubella are maternal infections that cause significant abnormalities.
Pediatric surgery and children with functional problems such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease or congenital hypothyroidism can be performed to treat structural congenital abnormalities.
