The most common cleft lip is of the upper lip, between the nose and mouth. Cleft palate occurs when there is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Either of these problems can make it quite difficult for the child to drink when bottle-fed and parents often have to be taught how to feed their child. The team also sees many children with abnormal ear shapes, or children whose outer ears are not completely formed. In addition, they see a large population of babies born with abnormally shaped heads.
Most babies heads aren t quite the right shape at birth, but correct themselves as the babies grow.
In some babies, the sutures in their skulls close too early, which restricts the growth of the head. All of these conditions are treated with surgery. This genetic disorder involves the exocrine glands and can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pancreatic exocrine deficiency, urogenital dysfunction, and abnormally high electrolyte concentration in the sweat. Children with cystic fibrosis often have to go through extensive therapy to keep their lungs clear of mucous. They also have to take enzymes before a meal so that their bodies can digest the food.