What Are the Key Symptoms of Spina Bifida?

Spina Bifida Symptoms: An Overview 

Spina bifida, a neural tube defect (NTD), is a complex inborn disorder. It occurs due to an incomplete spine development in a fetus during the first month of pregnancy. There are three main types of spina bifida: spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

It can occur at varying degrees, and its most serious form is when there is an open lesion on the child’s spine. It usually affects the backbone around the small of the back or further down. In this article, we will inform you about the spina bifida symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and more.

Symptoms of Spina Bifida

Spina bifida signs and symptoms include problems with movement and issues related to hydrocephalus.

Some major symptoms include the following:

1. Movement of Muscles

The incomplete development of the spine impacts nerves along the spine. It can affect the brain's ability to control the muscles and cause problems in their movement. So, most children affected by this condition have some kind of paralysis or weakness in the lower limbs. It also hampers the bones' development, sometimes causing conditions like scoliosis.

2. Bladder Issues

Bladder control issues can also be one of the spina bifida symptoms, as the bladder is in the lower body. It happens due to the incomplete formation of nerves that control the bladder. Often, this can cause problems such as urinary incontinence, hydronephrosis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, and kidney scarring. Therefore, monitoring of the bladder and kidneys becomes necessary.

3.Bowel Problems

The nerve controlling the sphincter for proper bowel movement can be hampered. This results in limited or no control over the sphincter muscles and causes bowel incontinence. So, regular episodes of diarrhoea or periods of constipation can be one of the signs and symptoms of spina bifida.

4. Hydrocephalus

Spina bifida can lead to a condition called hydrocephalus, which can trap an excess of fluid in the brain. This can increase pressure on the brain and cause damage, sometimes resulting in learning difficulties.
A short attention span, difficulty reading, difficulty understanding fast-spoken language, difficulty solving problems, and more can be a result of this. Due to Hydrocephalus, the baby can experience certain symptoms soon after birth, such as seizures, irritability, drowsiness, poor feeding, and being sick.

5.Other Issues

Reduced sensation in the lower body can also result in skin problems, such as frequent injuries and ulcers. Latex allergy is also one of the spina bifida symptoms.

Causes of Spina Bifida

After looking into spina bifida symptoms, here are some of the possible causes of Spina Bifida:

1. Low Intake of Folic Acid: During pregnancy, if the mother does not intake enough folic acid or vitamin B9, it increases the chances of this condition. Folic acid prevents 7 out of 10 cases of NTDs, such as spina bifida.
2. Family Medical History: The chances of a baby getting spina bifida increase if there is a case in the family. Usually, in these cases, a high dosage of folic acid is recommended by the doctor.
3. Other Genetic Conditions: If a baby has spina bifida, there is a chance that they have genetic conditions as well. These conditions include Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome, or Patau's syndrome.
4. Certain Medications: The risk of this condition increases with certain medications during pregnancy. Certain medicines like Carbamazepine and Valproate trigger this disorder. The treatment of epilepsy and mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder, is done with these medicines.
5. Other Factors: If a pregnant woman has conditions like obesity and diabetes, their chances of having a child with spina bifida increase.
    

Diagnosis of Spina Bifida

Usually, the diagnosis of spina bifida in the fetus can be made through a few tests. These are as follows:

1. Amniocentesis: This test measures the protein levels in the uterus by taking amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus.
2. Ultrasound (Sonogram): Imaging of the baby can help in spotting issues with the spine.
3. Blood Test: In this test, the mother’s blood is taken during the 16th to 18th week of pregnancy. This test screens for AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) in their blood. Usually, the percentage of AFP in women carrying a baby with spina bifida is higher by around 75% to 80%.

These tests work for most cases. However, it is also possible to miss detecting the disorder during pregnancy.

Treatment of Spina Bifida

There are various ways to treat the multiple issues caused by spina bifida. These treatment methods include:

1. Spine Repair Surgery: In most cases, the hole in the spine can be treated and repaired with surgery within 48 hours of birth. However, the surgery cannot reverse any damage to the nerves.
2. Hydrocephalus Treatment: In this treatment, a tube (shunt) is inserted to drain excess spinal fluid to other body parts, generally the stomach. Maintenance of the shunt also requires future surgery in cases of blockage, infection, or growth.
3. Occupational Therapy: This therapy helps the child to learn about carrying out daily activities with more independence.
4. Physiotherapy: To prevent any further weakening or deformity in the legs, this therapy helps the children through regular exercises.
5. Joint and Bone Treatment: Corrective surgeries, like orthopaedic surgeries, help to overcome issues such as clubfoot or hip dislocation.
6. Treatments for Bowel Issues: To treat spina bifida symptoms of bowel issues, various medications are used, like laxatives, enemas, and suppositories. Moreover, methods such as anal irrigation and colostomy, along with surgical operations like antegrade continence enema (ACE), also help in the treatment of bowel problems.
7. Treatments for Bladder Issues: The treatment of bladder issues uses medicines and antibiotics. Moreover, bladder surgery and urinary catheterisation are also a few means to help with this issue.

Prevention of Spina Bifida

There are a few steps a pregnant woman can take to prevent spina bifida in their child. These measures can include:

• Take enough folic acid as recommended by your doctor (400 mcg/day pre-conception reduces risk by 70%).
• Inform the doctor about all of your supplement intakes.
• Immediate treatment of your fevers.
• Avoid overheating your body.
• Manage conditions like obesity or diabetes by consulting with your doctor.

The Next Step

After the diagnosis of a child with spina bifida, it can be difficult to decide what the future holds. So, always handle the situation one step at a time and consult with an expert who can advise you throughout the treatment process.
Recent findings have also revealed that the lifespan of people having this disorder has increased by 36.6% from 2011 to 2022. Therefore, with appropriate care, the lives of spina bifida can significantly improve.

Takeaway

Spina bifida symptoms include problems with movement and issues related to hydrocephalus. This is a condition which does not have exact causes linked to it apart from environmental factors and genetics.

No link with any specific cause makes this condition unpredictable. Therefore, proper care is necessary for women while they are pregnant. Moreover, advanced research in this area is leading to an improved future for individuals having this condition.