Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that occur very early in pregnancy, while the baby is developing inside its mother. Clef ting results when there is not enough tissue in the mouth or lip area, and the tissue that is available does not join together properly.

In most cases, the cause of cleft lip and cleft palate is unknown. These conditions cannot be prevented. Most scientists believe clefts are due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There appears to be a greater chance of clefting in a newborn if a sibling, parent, or relative has had the problem.

Another potential cause may be related to a medication a mother may have taken during her pregnancy. Some drugs may cause cleft lip and cleft palate. Among them: anti-seizure/anticonvulsant medications, acne medications containing Accutane, and methotrexate, a drug commonly used for treating cancer, arthritis, and psoriasis.

Cleft lip and cleft palate may also occur as a result of exposure to viruses or chemicals while the fetus is developing in the womb.

Clefts in the lip can range from a tiny notch in the upper lip to a split that extends into the nose. A cleft palate can range from a small malformation that results in minimal problems to a large separation of the palate that interferes with eating, speaking, and even breathing. Clefts are often referred to as unilateral, a split on one side, or bilateral, one split on each side. There are three primary types of clefts: Cleft lip/palate refers to the condition when both the palate and lip are cleft. About one in 1,000 babies are born with cleft lip/palate.

o About 50 percent of all clefts o More common in Asians and certain groups of American Indians o Occurs less frequently in African-Americans o Up to 13 percent of cases present with other birth defects o Occurs more often in male children.

Problems Associated With Cleft Lip and/or Palate Are:

* Eating problems. With a separation or opening in the palate, food and liquids can pass from the mouth back through the nose.

* Ear infections/hearing loss. Children with cleft palate are at increased risk of ear infections since they are more prone to fluid build-up in the middle ear. If left untreated, ear infections can cause hearing loss.

* Speech problems. Children with cleft lip or cleft palate may also have trouble speaking. These children’s voices don’t carry well, the voice may take on a nasal sound, and the speech may be difficult to understand.

* Dental Problems. Children with clefts are more prone to a larger than average number of cavities and often have missing, extra, malformed, or displaced teeth requiring dental and orthodontic treatments.

Cleft lip and cleft palate is a major problem in developing countries like Bangladesh. The people with cleft lip and cleft palate are unable to eat or speak properly for which they have to face an isolated life filled with pain and shame for not being socially acceptable.

There are so many of children and adult with cleft lips and palates in Bangladesh who have little to no prospect of ever being helped. They are so poor, they could never afford surgery. So they wait and they hope and they pray that someday, someone will come along and help them from their curse of having the cleft lip/cleft palate and give them the freedom to smile like a normal human being, not to be ashamed of their look.

Reference Links:

http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/cleftLipPalate.cfm

http://www.medicinenet.com/cleft_palate_and_cleft_lip/article.htm

Author Bio: Tahmina Sultan Touching Souls International http://www.touchingsoulsintl.org Touching Souls International(TSI) is a New York based International non profit organization providing charity in health, education and safe environment for economically disadvantaged. Since 2001, provided 36 cleft lip camps, in each camp provided 15 to 70 free cleft lip surgeries for the disadvantaged.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: nonprofit, cleft lip,cleft lip surgery