Congenital Deformities

Congenital deformities describe the defects or damage to a developing fetus. There are a number of reasons for these deformities, including genetic abnormalities, the environment in the mother's uterus, mistakes in the biological formation of the fetus, or abnormalities in the chromosomes. There are approximately 4,000 known congenital deformities, or birth defects, today. Many are minor, but a few are serious, some even leading to death. Yet many of these deformities are treatable, both before and after birth. There are a wide variety of causes for congenital abnormalities, many of which cannot be identified. One of the common causes that can be identified is the use of antibiotics near the time when the child was conceived. Some of the most common types of birth defects are heart defects—affecting 1 in 100 babies in this country, spina bifida, and hypospadias—the misplacement of the male urethra.