Epidemiological Aspects of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Abstract

BACKGROUND A new-born baby having a cleft lip alone or a cleft lip with cleft palate is definitely painful to the parents. Such cases must be referred to a multi-disciplinary medical team having expertise in craniofacial defects. The role of a family doctor is significant in these cases as he / she is the one who can minimize the sufferings of the parents and their family members by ensuring antenatal diagnosis and extending support for the whole family post-diagnosis, during initial days of breastfeeding as well as bonding issues and also throughout an extended period of months and years of surgical interventions and speech therapies. These cleft lip and palate deformities are the most typical facial defects in children at birth. This leads to not only the altered appearance, defective speech, improper hearing, retarded growth of the baby but also deranged psychosocial well-being and disrupted social integration of the parents and family members. This article presents an overall epidemiological aspect of the said anomalies in the immense interest & benefit of all the concerned professionals. Patients with cleft lip or palate have significant problems in communication, and face difficulties with deglutition. The understanding of the anatomy and associated pathophysiology play a vital role in the management of these patients. The surgical correction remains the mainstay of treatment to date. This article describes common problems related to kids having cleft lip and palate anomalies and provides the latest surgical options available in such congenital cleft care. The genetic basis of the disease and recent advances in the developmental defects of this congenital abnormality is also discussed. In addition to physical corrections, psychological effects on the family need to be addressed at priority. The treating physician must consider the mental health of the parents. The current concepts of treatment will continue to evolve because of continuous developments in the fields of foetal surgery, genetic and tissue engineering. KEY WORDS Cleft, Lip, Palate, Aperture, Folic Acid, Congenital, Abnormality, Orofacial, Correction, Surgery