Cleft Lip and Palate
Definition Cleft lip and palate are congenital abnormalities (present at birth) that affect the upper lip and the hard and soft palate of the mouth. Features range from a small notch in the lip to a complete fissure (groove) extending into the roof of the mouth and nose. These features may occur separately or together.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Cleft lip and palate are facial may occur in association with other syndromes or birth defects. There are numerous causes for these birth defects, including mutant genes inherited from one or both parents and teratogens (drugs, viruses, or other toxins that can cause abnormalities in a developing fetus).
As well as being disfiguring, these abnormalities can cause feeding difficulties, problems with speech development, and ear infections.
Risk factors include a family history of cleft lip or palate and presence of another birth defect. The incidence of cleft lip and palate varies with different races; approximately 1 out of 1,000 Caucasians are affected. The incidence of cleft palate alone is 1 out of 2,500 people.
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