Porencephaly
What is Porencephaly? Porencephaly is a rare congenital brain disorder marked by fluid-filled cysts or cavities in the cerebral hemispheres, causing symptoms like seizures, low muscle tone, paralysis, hydrocephalus, and…
Category: Fact Sheet Excerpt
Premature Births: Causes & Prevention
What is a Premature Birth? Premature birth occurs when a pregnancy lasts fewer than 37 weeks from conception. Full-term infants are born 38-42 weeks after they are conceived, with the…
Polycystic Kidney Disease
What is Polycystic Kidney Disease? Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic disease characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts that can result in malformed or enlarged kidneys. These…
Polands Syndrome
What is Poland’s Syndrome? Poland’s Syndrome is a pattern of one-sided malformations characterized by the absence of the pectoralis major (chest) muscle and short, webbed fingers on the same side…
Pierre Robin Syndrome
What is Pierre Robin Syndrome? Pierre Robin Syndrome is a congenital condition named after the French physician who identified its main characteristics. One symptom of this condition is an abnormally…
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
What is Pervasive Developmental Disorder? Pervasive Developmental Disorder is an umbrella term referring to a group of disorders of social interaction, communication, behavior, and cognition. There has been considerable debate…
Pectus Excavatum
What is Pectus Excavatum? Pectus excavatum, also called sunken chest or funnel chest, is the most common chest wall deformity in children, occurring in 1 in 500 births, more often…
Omphalocele
What is Omphalocele? Omphalocele is a congenital (present at birth) defect of the abdominal wall at the base of the umbilical cord. A sac containing abdominal organs protrudes through the…
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder involving persistent, unwanted obsessions—anxious thoughts or impulses—and compulsions, repetitive rituals performed for relief. OCD stems from brain abnormalities affecting…
Neurogenic Bladder
What is Neurogenic Bladder? Neurogenic bladder is a bladder dysfunction resulting from improper functioning of the nerves which carry messages between the brain and the bladder muscles to facilitate urination.…
For daily information about new research on birth defects, visit our 