Question: What is (are) congenital diaphragmatic hernia ?
Answer: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a defect in the diaphragm. The diaphragm, which is composed of muscle and other fibrous tissue, separates the organs in the abdomen from those in the chest. Abnormal development of the diaphragm before birth leads to defects ranging from a thinned area in the diaphragm to its complete absence. An absent or partially formed diaphragm results in an abnormal opening (hernia) that allows the stomach and intestines to move into the chest cavity and crowd the heart and lungs. This crowding can lead to underdevelopment of the lungs (pulmonary hypoplasia), potentially resulting in life-threatening breathing difficulties that are apparent from birth. In 5 to 10 percent of affected individuals, signs and symptoms of congenital diaphragmatic hernia appear later in life and may include breathing problems or abdominal pain from protrusion of the intestine into the chest cavity. In about 1 percent of cases, congenital diaphragmatic hernia has no symptoms; it may be detected incidentally when medical imaging is done for other reasons. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are often classified by their position. A Bochdalek hernia is a defect in the side or back of the diaphragm. Between 80 and 90 percent of congenital diaphragmatic hernias are of this type. A Morgnani hernia is a defect involving the front part of the diaphragm. This type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which accounts for approximately 2 percent of cases, is less likely to cause severe symptoms at birth. Other types of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, such as those affecting the central region of the diaphragm, or those in which the diaphragm muscle is absent with only a thin membrane in its place, are rare.
Source: GHR

Question: How many people are affected by congenital diaphragmatic hernia ?
Answer: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects approximately 1 in 2,500 newborns.
Source: GHR

Question: Is congenital diaphragmatic hernia inherited ?
Answer: Isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia is rarely inherited. In almost all cases, there is only one affected individual in a family. When congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs as a feature of a genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality, it may cluster in families according to the inheritance pattern for that condition.
Source: GHR

Question: What are the treatments for congenital diaphragmatic hernia ?
Answer: These resources address the diagnosis or management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: - Boston Children's Hospital - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Columbia University Medical Center: DHREAMS - Columbia University Medical Center: Hernia Repair - Gene Review: Gene Review: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Overview - Genetic Testing Registry: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia - Genetic Testing Registry: Diaphragmatic hernia 2 - Genetic Testing Registry: Diaphragmatic hernia 3 - MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair - Seattle Children's Hospital: Treatment of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia - University of California, San Francisco Fetal Treatment Center: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia - University of Michigan Health System These resources from MedlinePlus offer information about the diagnosis and management of various health conditions: - Diagnostic Tests - Drug Therapy - Surgery and Rehabilitation - Genetic Counseling - Palliative Care
Source: GHR