Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which a portion of an infant's
intestines protrude out of the body through a small hole in the body
wall beside the umbilical cord. The body wall defect can be small or
large and other organs such as the liver can be involved.
To learn more about gastroschisis click on one of the following
links or scroll down the page.
What We Know About Gastroschisis
- How often does gastroschisis occur?
- What problems do children with gastroschisis have?
What We Still Do Not Know About
Gastroschisis
- What causes gastroschisis?
- Can gastroschisis be prevented?
Resources for Families and Individuals
Affected by Gastroschisis
| What
We Know About Gastroschisis |
How often does gastroschisis occur?
CDC estimates that each year about 1,500 babies in the United States
are born with gastroschisis (1). In other words, about 1 out of
every 2,500 babies born in the United States each year will have
gastroschisis.
What problems do children with gastroschisis have?
Infants and children with gastroschisis usually are expected to have
some problems. These include problems of movement of digested food
through the stomach and intestines, and absorption of nutrients.
This is due to the intestine’s being uncovered and irritated by the
amniotic fluid. In addition, the misplaced organs can make it
difficult for the baby’s lungs to expand, which can cause breathing
problems. Sometimes death of the bowel is a complication.
[Return to Top]
| What
We Still Do Not Know About Gastroschisis |
What causes gastroschisis?
Gastroschisis occurs during pregnancy when the muscles of the wall
of the baby’s abdomen do not form correctly. Some scientists think
that genetics or an environmental exposure during pregnancy can
cause gastroschisis, but the exact cause is still unknown.
We at CDC work with many other researchers to study risk factors
that can increase the chance of having a baby with gastroschisis.
Following are examples of what our research has found:
- Teenage mothers are more likely to have a baby with
gastroschisis than older mothers, and White teenagers have
higher rates than Black or African-American teenagers (2).
- Mothers eating a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet before
they get pregnant can increase their risk for having a baby with
gastroschisis, although more research is needed on this topic
(3).
Can gastroschisis be prevented?
Currently, there is no known way to prevent gastroschisis. Even so,
mothers can take steps before and during pregnancy to have a healthy
pregnancy. These steps include taking a daily multivitamin with
folic acid (400 micrograms), not smoking, and not drinking alcohol
during pregnancy.
[Return to Top]
|
Resources for Families and Individuals Affected by
Gastroschisis |
Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF
Medline
References
- Canfield MA, Honein MA, Yuskiv N, Xing J, Mai CT, Collins
JS, et al. National estimates and race/ethnic-specific variation
of selected birth defects in the United States, 1999-2001. Birth
Defects Res Part A Clin Mol Teratol. 2006;76(11):747–56.
- Williams LJ, Kucik JE, Alverson CJ, Olney RS, Correa A.
Epidemiology of gastroschisis in metropolitan Atlanta, 1968
through 2000. Birth Defects Res A. 2005; 73:177-83.
- Siega-Riz AM, Olshan AF, Werler MW, Moore CA, and the
National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Fat intake and the risk
of gastroschisis. Birth Defects Res A. 2006; 76(11):241-45.
[Return to Top]
Date:
March 11, 2009
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
