Amelia: An Overview of the Genetic Disorder Leading to Loss or Absence of Limb

Every year, thousands of children are born with birth defects associated with common genetic disorders. For many, an absence in limb development during the gestational age is well preventable, giving parents the opportunity to seek early treatment options for a child afflicted with the complication.

One such complication at birth is a rare genetic defect known as Amelia. Known for the total loss of a limb, amelia can be indicated by the number of limbs affected, but it always reflects the total absence of a limb as opposed to the partial loss of a limb known as meromelia.

So how is Emily growing up? During the gestation period, approximately three to five weeks, significant development and formation of the limbs takes place. This formation cannot be interrupted or disturbed. Generally speaking, the same genetic defect that attributes to amelia is likely also related to another major defect in gestation; which involves cleft lip, cleft palate and even skull formation and neural tube defects.

In most cases of amelia, the cause and origin can be traced back to a recessive gene deficiency, but this is not always the case. In a few cases, amelia can be attributed to early health complications during pregnancy, including infection, failed abortion or even complications with removal IUDs are connected after pregnancy.

In addition, amelia is also associated with complications during pregnancy with thalidomide use. As a drug to treat extreme morning and nausea, thalidomide is believed to be responsible for a plethora of birth defects involving mostly the limbs, in the middle of the 20th century Because of these findings, thalidomide was taken off the market but later reintroduced for use in patients suffering from arthritis, cancer and infections, but never for use by prenatal testing is important to be well prepared for complications and risks. Such prenatal testing may include alpha fetoprotein testing and amniocentesis.

When you are positively diagnosed with amelia in pregnancy, this morning information will allow the expecting mother to prepare for the expected neonatal care that will be required during the birth of the baby . Because amelia is associated with other health complications, meeting with your baby’s pediatrician before birth can provide general advice on ways to address your baby’s needs in the hours, weeks, and months after birth. Many expectant mothers, having learned of amelia during pregnancy, will begin to investigate prosthetic devices in preparation for the costs and care required by the baby to ensure proper growth and development.

As with treatment options, including the expected cost of treatment and prosthetic devices he bought

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