Is spina bifida a disease

Is spina bifida an inherited disease?

http://www.webanswers.com/health/disease-conditions/is-spina-bifida-an-inherited-disease-ad4ef7

Spina bifida is a genetic defect disease, but not necessarily inheritable. The cause is unknown but has been linked to a lack of folic acid in the mother’s diet. In fact, the incidence of spina bifida can be decreased by up to 75% when dail…

What type of genetic disease is spina bifida?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070205074207AAXDm0R

“Spina bifida (Latin: “split spine”) are birth defects caused by an incomplete closure (an opening) of one or more vertebral arches (lamina) of the spine, resulting in malformations of the spinal cord. The spinal membranes an…

How can they tell if your baby has diseases like spina bifida or …?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080306221202AAGUnDe

The marker test actually doesn’t tell you whether or not your baby has it. Instead, it screens your blood to see if your baby MIGHT have it. If anything is positive, they do even more tests, such as an amniocentisis (where they insert a lon…

Related Questions Answered on Y!Answers

Is being diagnosed with spina bifida a sex link disease or from mom or dad?

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A: It’s not a sex link disease and it’s not from mom and dad. It’s more because of nutrition.

what type of genetic disease is spina bifida?

Q:

A: “Spina bifida (Latin: “split spine”) are birth defects caused by an incomplete closure (an opening) of one or more vertebral arches (lamina) of the spine, resulting in malformations of the spinal cord. The spinal membranes and spinal cord may protrude through the absence of vertebral arches (called clefts). These malformations fall into three categories: spina bifida occulta, spina bifida cystica (myelomeningocele), and meningocele. Depending on the extent of the types of tissue herniated, these defects can be classified as meningocele, meningoencephalocele, and as meningohydroencephalocoele.Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect. Neural tube defects can usually be detected during pregnancy by AFP screening or a detailed fetal ultrasound. Spina bifida may be associated with other malformations as in dysmorphic syndromes, often resulting in spontaneous miscarriage. However, in the majority of cases spina bifida is an isolated malformation. Spina bifida has varying prevalence in different human populations. This and extensive evidence from mouse strains with spina bifida suggests a genetic basis. As with other human diseases such as cancer, hypertension and atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease), spina bifida likely results from the interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors. Despite much research, it is still unknown what causes the majority of cases. Nevertheless, there is substantial evidence supporting a significant protective effect of folic acid (0.4 mg per day) when taken by women early in pregnancy. It is important to note that spina bifida occurs by the fourth week of pregnancy before many women will be aware of a pregnancy, thus it is generally recommended that women of child-bearing age take a folic acid supplement (most multivitamins contain 0.4 mg folic acid) if they are sexually active. Genetic counseling and further genetic testing, such as amniocentesis, may be offered during the pregnancy as some neural tube defects are associated with genetic disorders such as trisomy 18.The most common locations of the malformations are in the lumbar and sacral areas. The lumbar nerves control the muscles in the hip, leg, knee and foot, and help to keep the body erect. The sacral nerves control some of the muscles in the feet, bowel and bladder and the ability to have an erection. Some degree of impairment can be expected in these areas.”

Is spina bifida a rare disease?

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A: Spina bifida occurs in about 1 in every 2,000 births. I was born with spina bifida.