The most common congenital malformations involving the nervous system are the neural defects. This can affect the brain and the spinal cord. This includes conditions such as spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele which are all evident at the birth of the infant. These conditions can develop because of the problem of the brain and the spinal cord in the developing fetus. The brain and the spinal cord develop from a structure called the neural tube. Normally the neural tube closes to protect the brain and the spinal cord. When the neural tube does not close by the 28th day of pregnancy, it can present neural tube defect. The nerve damage that is evident during the birth is usually permanent. In most of the cases, neural tube defect can be diagnosed during pregnancy with an ultrasound. Ensuring the consumption of sufficient amount of folic acid during pregnancy can prevent most of the cases of neural defects.
Spina bifida
This condition can occur anywhere along the spine when the neural tube does not close all the way and can result in damage to the spinal cord and the nerves. This can present physical and mental disabilities depending on the location, the size of the opening in the spine and whether part of the spinal cord and the nerves are affected. The three most common forms of spina bifida include myelomeningocele which is the most serious form of the condition, meningocele which presents little or no nerve damage and spina bifida occulta when the spinal cord and the nerves are usually normal.
Anencephaly
This is a serious condition where the child is born without the parts of the brain and the skull that occurs when the upper section of the neural tube does not close all the way. Some of the infants develop this condition because of genetic changes or other factors such as what the mother consumes or comes in contact with during pregnancy. This condition can also be evident during the screening tests such as ultrasound or is evident at the birth of the infant. There is no cure for anencephaly and almost all of the infants born with this condition die shortly after the birth.
Encephalocele
This is a rare form of neural tube birth defect that affects the brain. Although this condition can occur anywhere from the nose to the back of the neck, it commonly occurs at the back of the head, at the top of the head or between the forehead and the nose. The treatment of this condition is based on a surgery that places the exposed parts of the brain into the skull and closing the opening of the skull. The neurologic problems that occur from this condition will continue to be present.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/anencephaly.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/encephalocele.html
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/surveillancemanual/photo-atlas/nervous.html
