Approximately 1 in every 700 live births is thought to result in a baby with a cleft lip or palate. India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of 1.35 billion. As a result, a significant proportion of children are born in India with cleft lip and palate and are successfully treated.
An estimated 30,000 children are born each year with cleft palates. Nearly half of all craniofacial deformities are accounted for by this, according to the World Health Organization.
The second most typical birth defect in humans is a cleft lip, also known as a hare lip. This occurs as a result of the lip and palate not fully developing during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Clefts are breaks in continuity. The term “unilateral cleft lip” refers to when it only affects one side of the upper lip. The term “bilateral cleft lip” is used when it affects both sides.
Similar to this, a cleft palate is referred to when there is a gap in either the hard or soft palate. It could once more be bilateral or unilateral (two-sided).
A significant factor is- genetics. Thus, a physical split between the two sides of the upper lips or, on occasion, the upper palate results from the congenital condition known as cleft palate. Cleft develops quite early in pregnancy-
- When there is insufficient tissue in the mouth or lip area
- When the tissue that is present does not join. An ultrasound can be used to find the defect, and subsequent surgeries can be used to fix it.
An ultrasound can be used to find the defect, and subsequent surgeries can be used to fix it.
- Some children may only have a cleft lip or palate. The associated deformity’s width as well as the cleft’s width varies.
- The cut may occasionally be on one or both sides of the lips. Some children with cleft palates also have a cleft of the alveolus, the upper jaw’s tooth-bearing port.
- They can occur individually, or both defects may be present together in a child.