Malformations

Malformations are structural abnormalities that present at birth that can affect almost every part of the body ( e.g. heart, brain, feet). They can influence how the body looks, works or both. Malformations can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions. The well-being of a child affected by a malformation depends largely on which part of the body or organs are affected and to what extent. The life expectancy may be impaired if the malformation is severe. About 3-5 out of 100 children have a malformation at birth. This also means that 95-97 out of 100 children are born healthy. Malformations can be detected before birth, at birth or any time after birth, but most are diagnosed within the first year of life. Some malformations (such as cleft lip or palate) are easily recognisable, others (such as heart defects or hearing loss) are detected by special tests such as an ultra sound of the heart or a hearing test.