Expert Explains Cause of Infant Death

An obstetrician, Dr Chris Agboghoroma has singled out congenital defects as a major cause of infant deaths in the first year of birth.

Agboghoroma told our correspondent in Abuja that congenital disorders cause damage to a developing foetus during pregnancy.

“There are more than 4,000 different known birth defects, ranging from minor to serious, and although many can be treated or cured, they are the major cause of deaths in the first year of birth.

The Tide learnt that congenital disorder is a condition at birth, or before birth or which develops during the first month of life regardless of causation.

According to Agboghoroma, birth defects are abnormalities of body metabolism present at birth which can lead to developmental or physical disabilities that require medical or surgical treatment.

He explained that the abnormalities in the babies in which specific body parts are missing or formed incorrectly are problems in the body chemistry, saying that the cause could be an interaction of a number of genetic and environmental factors.

He said that some medical conditions could run in the family of either of the partners who are likely to be victims of congenital birth defect.

He said exposures to radiations, x-rays and direct effect of sunlight could cause congenital disorders.

He stated that drugs taken without doctors’ prescriptions during pregnancy could result in malformation of the baby.

Agboghoroma said that: “Women above the ages of 35 years are at a risk of delivering malformed babies, because the older a woman gets, the more likely she could deliver a child with defects “.

He noted that most of the structural congenital birth defects include heart defect, clubfoot and hidden testicles, among others, adding, however, that most of the defects could be treated or cured immediately after birth.

Agboghoroma called on medical personnel to ensure they attended to babies immediately after birth so as to detect and treat any possible malformation.

He said congenital malformation of the internal organs which are not likely to manifest physically at birth could be identified by parents and advised parents to ensure scrutiny of their babies for any form of congenital defects for prompt medical attention.