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Cleft Lip
A cleft lip is one of the most common birth defects in children. A cleft is an opening, or gap, in a place that is generally closed. In the case of a cleft lip, it is an opening or gap in the lip or from the lip up into the nose. They can be partial or complete, unilateral or bilateral. Cleft lips are generally obvious at birth, and as a result of modern advances in the field, most hospitals have teams ready to analyze and begin to treat this condition immediately, sometimes even before birth. Not only do cleft lips cause cosmetic and psychological problems, especially in the teen years, but they can interfere with eating, hearing, speech, and tooth development, and cause ear infections. However, with modern medical methods, many children can have the problem surgically repaired with little scarring.
Fast Facts
- Approximately 1 in 700 children in this country are born with either a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both.
- Genetics play a part in the cause of these conditions, with American Indians reporting the most cases, Hispanic and Asian children are at high risk, as well, and black children report the fewest cases.
