Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders: Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a genetic disease among people. It means divided spine.

Spina bifida is a birth defect in which there is defective closure of the vertebral column during the prenatal development. This disease can be mild or extremely severe. Children who have a severe form of Spina Bifida may also have hydrocephaly. Hydrocephaly is a condition that involves the build up of spinal fluid on the brain. If the child is left to accumulate this fluid, then brain damage may occur.

Spina bifida has many symptoms. People with spina bifida have lost sensation from wherever the protrusion occurred and the rest of the body below that point. A child should be kept out of direct sunlight. A person with this disease would have little or no bladder control. Spina Bifida may cause a person to have their skin breakdown.

When people sit in wheelchairs, they should change their position frequently. The spinal cord may protrude within a fragile sac. Surgical treatment is only required for people that do not have the milder cases. Infants who have the disease must be treated. If they are not, then they can die from infection or they can become severely disabled. Even if surgery and therapy is performed on the child, the child may still remain physically and often mentally handicapped.

Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders

For Further Reading