A birth defect[a] is an abnormal condition that is present at birth, regardless of its cause.[2] Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be physical, intellectual, or developmental.[2] The disabilities can range from mild to severe.[6] Birth defects are divided into two main types: structural disorders in which problems are seen with the shape of a body part and functional disorders in which problems exist with how a body part works.[3] Functional disorders include metabolic and degenerative disorders.[3] Some birth defects include both structural and functional disorders.[3]
Treatment varies depending on the defect in question.[7] This may include therapy, medication, surgery, or assistive technology.[7] Birth defects affected about 96 million people as of 2015[update].[11] In the United States, they occur in about 3% of newborns.[8] They resulted in about 628,000 deaths in 2015, down from 751,000 in 1990.[9][12] The types with the greatest numbers of deaths are congenital heart disease (303,000), followed by neural tube defects (65,000).[9]
^ abcd"What are Birth Defects?". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
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