What is meningomyelocele in children?
Myelomeningocele, also known as meningomyelocele, is a form of spina bifida. A birth defect in which the spinal canal and backbone do not close until the baby is born is known as spina bifida. A neural tube defect is another name for this form of birth defect.
The spinal cord and meninges (tissue that surrounds the spinal cord) may protrude through the back of the child. The skin on a child’s back will often cover the spinal cord and meninges. The spinal cord and meninges can also protrude through the skin in some cases.
Spina bifida most commonly occurs in three forms:
1) spina bifida occulta
2) meningoceles
3) meningomyelocele (myelomeningocele)
symptoms of meningomyelocele?
The spinal cord of a baby with a meningomyelocele is exposed at birth. The exposed spinal cord could be covered by a sac on the baby’s mid to lower back. The specific signs and their severity are determined by your child’s unique situation. Meningomyelocele is a serious condition in which the spinal cord has not formed properly and the brain has been affected.
Leg, bladder, and bowel function disorders are often caused by abnormalities in the spinal cord. Some children can lose full bladder and bowel control. Their legs can be partially or fully paralyzed or deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly de These body parts and functions are only slightly affected in other infants.
Some signs and symptoms to look for include:
1) Deformities orthopedic
2) a case of hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid in the skull that leads to swelling of the brain)
3) Malformation of the Chiari (structural defects in the part of the brain that controls balance)
How is meningomyelocele diagnosed?
The quadruple scan, a blood test that can be done during the second trimester of pregnancy, is used to diagnose this disease. Meningomyelocele, Down syndrome, and other congenital disorders of the baby can all be detected with this test. Maternal alpha-fetoprotein levels are usually higher in women who are carrying a baby with neural tube defects (AFP).