popular birth defects diseases
1 The most common severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down syndrome. 2  Although congenital anomalies may be genetic, infectious, nutritional or environmental in origin, most often it is difficult to identify the exact causes.3  Some congenital anomalies can be prevented.ongenital anomalies are also known as birth defects, congenital disorders or congenital malformations. Congenital anomalies can be defined as structural or functional anomalies (e.g. metabolic disorders) that occur during intrauterine life and can be identified prenatally, at birth or later in life.