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Spina bifida

Top Doctors
Top Doctors editorial
Top Doctors
Created by: Top Doctors editorial

Spina bifida, also known as spinal dysraphia, is a birth defect that causes incomplete development of the spinal cord or the membranes that cover it. This disease is characterized by the fetal spine does not close completely during pregnancy, so it is often caused neurological damage in the spinal cord, which may entail different consequences: partial paralysis of the legs, hydrocephalus, difficulties learning, etc. This disease has no cure but there are treatments designed to correct or improve the complications that entails. Depending on the patient, the therapy may be based on drugs, surgery or physical therapy. Anyway, to prevent spina bifida in babies, doctors recommend the mother taking folic acid during early pregnancy. This risk is reduced that the baby is born with this disease.