In Utah, STD + UTI = birth defect
In Utah, 25 babies are born each year with a type of hernia called gastroschisis. Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which an infant’s intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord. The defect is clearly seen during routine ultrasound of the mother, but surgery to repair this type of hernia can only be done after the baby is born.
Researchers interviewed mothers from 10 states, including Utah, where it is more prevalent than the rest of the nation. The study showed that women who had UTI and STD infections one month prior to pregnancy or during pregnancy increases the risk of developing gastroschisis up to 4 times.
What can be done about it? Early intervention to treat these infections can prevent other complications, but there is no way to know if the fetus is or will develop the defect. So the best intervention is before conception - making sure a woman knows that there is a risk for birth defects if she has urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted disease.
Tags: birth defect, child, children, Children's Health, childrens health blog, gastroschisis, health, kids, kids health, kids health blog, kids health notes, News, Research and Breakthroughs, sexually transmitted disease, std, urinary tract infection, utiRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Diseases and Medical Conditions, Infectious Diseases, News, Research and Breakthroughs
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