 |
||||
 |
||||
 |
||||
Indicator Profile of Cleft Palate without Cleft LipWhy Is This Important?Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the more common birth defects. A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth. Cleft palate occurs when the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) do not completely join together during pregnancy.Researchers believe that most cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors can cause clefts, either as an isolated defect or as part of a syndrome that includes clefting. In some cases, babies inherit a gene that makes them more likely to develop a cleft, and then an environmental trigger actually causes the cleft to occur. Environmental factors thought to contribute to clefting include: fetal exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, certain medications, illicit drugs and certain viruses. Other risk factors for clefting include: family history of clefts; maternal obesity; race (clefts are more common among American Indian and Asian children, and less common among Black children); and gender. Males are more likely to have a cleft lip with or without cleft palate, while females are more likely to have cleft palate without cleft lip. Prevalence of Cleft Palate without Cleft Lip in Children Born to NJ Resident Mothers, Statewide Rates, 2000-2007 Data SourcesBirth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registration, New Jersey Department of Health; Early Identification and Monitoring Program, Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services, Division of Family Health Services, New Jersey Department of Health;DefinitionNumber of children born with cleft palate without cleft lip per 10,000 live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.How We Calculated the Rates
Page Content Updated On 10/09/12,
Published on 10/09/12
|
Department of Health P. O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 Phone: (609) 292-7837 Toll-free in NJ: 1-800-367-6543 Our Locations |
 |
