1. Genetic Disorders
Problem Pregnancies

2. Cleft lip/pallet Anyone can have it. More common in some races
Appears at birth
Birth defect
Roof of mouth (palate) not joined.
Treated with surgeries.

3. Clubfoot Anyone can have it Present at birth Many reasons for it.
Foot and ankle twisted making it impossible to walk.
Treated with surgery and shoes.

4. Color blindness Sex Linked--Males Present at birth
Inability to distinguish certain colors.
No cure—learn to accommodate

5. Cystic Fibrosis Recessive genetic
Usually present at birth—can show up later
Lack an enzyme so mucous builds up especially in lungs and digestion.
Treated with drugs, and pounding on back.

6. Diabetes Anyone can get it Occurs at birth or later
Many factors—incl. genetics and overweight
Abnormal metabolism of sugar & insulin
Treated with insulin and diet

7. Down Syndrome
More common to young or older parents or genetic tendency
Present at birth
21st Chromosome error
Varies from mild to severe
Surgery for heart defect. Help as needed

8. Hemophilia Sex linked—males Present at birth Genetic
Absence of clotting factor
Treated with transfusions and avoid injury

9. Huntington’s disease (Chorea)
Genetic
Shows up in middle age.
Deterioration of body and brain leading to death
No cure

10. Hydrocephalus Anyone can get it Present at birth or acquired later
Many factors cause it
Fluid (water) builds up on brain causing brain damage
Surgery to put in shunt

11. Marfan Syndrome Genetic—very rare Present at birth
Heart malformed, hearing loss, long and bony limbs
Treated with heart surgery, medicine, therapy

12. Muscular Dystrophy X-linked genetic Present at birth or later in life
Weakening and wasting away of muscles. Sometimes death
No cure

13. Sickle Cell Anemia Anyone can get it—more common in blacks
Present at birth
Genetic recessive
Abnormal blood cells—misshaped and unable to carry oxygen
Treated with transfusions

14. Tay-Sachs Disease More common in Jews (ethnicity, not religion)
Diagnosed by six months—dies around age 3 to 5
Genetic—recessive
Inability to break down fatty deposits in the brain. Nervous system shuts down.
No cure

15. Cerebral Palsy
Brain malformed, injured at birth, or damaged later in life
Not inherited
Ranges from super intelligent to severely retarded
Affects brain’s ability to control muscles
Treat the symptoms

16. Thalassemia Genetic—recessive More common in Greeks and Italians
Present at birth
Abnormal red blood cells, not enough red blood cells.
Treated with blood transfusions

17. Toxoplasmosis
The earlier in pregnancy the mother is infected, the lower is the risk of an infection of the fetus, but the severer is the disease. The later in pregnancy the mother is infected, the higher is the possibility of fetal infection, and the disease is less severe
 Parasitic infection from cat fecal matter or undercooked/raw meat
Infected children have seizures, hearing loss, jaundice, blindness, mental retardation
Prevent by cooking meat, not being around cats

18. Spina Bifida Anyone can get it Present at birth
Many factors cause it—current research links it to Folic Acid deficiency in mother
Can be slight cyst on spine to open spine—legs are paralyzed, poor bladder control
Treated with surgery and therapy