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Birth defects, or congenital

malformations, are the faulty formation of

structures or body parts present at birth.

Sporadic, hereditary, or acquired defects may be

immediately observed or may become manifest

later in life; they may be visible on the body

surface or present internally. Birth defects may be

life threatening and require surgical correction, or

they may interfere with function or appearance. It

is estimated that about 3% of all children are born

with major defects; minor defects or variations are

estimated to occur in 10% to 15% of births.

Malformations may be single or multiple. Multiple

malformations that occur in a regular recognizable

pattern are referred to as syndromes--for

example, the FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

sometimes observed in infants of mothers who

drank heavily when pregnant. Birth defects may

result from the action of genes, chromosomes, or

the environment on the developing fetus, but often

the cause cannot be determined. Inherited......

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Approximate Word Count: 728
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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