Cleft lip and cleft palate disease – symptoms, causes, diagnosis & stem cell therapy

Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects that affect the lip or the roof of the mouth (palate). They happen when these parts don’t close properly in the womb. It’s possible for them to occur by themselves or together. Sometimes they show up with other face and head issues which might be part of an inherited problem.

The exact reason why cleft lip and cleft palate happen is not fully understood. A mix of genes and the environment seems to play a big role. This can include things like the medicines a mother took and the general health of pregnancy. It’s more likely to happen in some people and certain ethnic groups.

Doctors can often spot cleft lip and cleft palate with an ultrasound at 20 weeks. Since these issues come about between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy, an early check is important. Catching it soon helps with planning the right care.

Surgery is often the way to fix cleft lip and cleft palate. Specialists use growing techniques to close the gap and shape the lip and/or palate. This work is usually done in a baby’s first year to help them develop well.

It’s critical to know that babies with these conditions might have other head and neck problems. This is often tied to genetic issues too.

Key Takeaways:

• Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects affecting the lip and/or roof of the mouth.
• They can occur together or separately and are often isolated birth defects.
• The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
• Diagnosis usually occurs between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
• Treatment options include surgical methods and nasal alveolar molding.

What does a cleft lip and palate look like?

When a baby is growing in the womb, cells and tissues start to form the face. This includes the lips and the roof of the mouth.

Sometimes, the lip’s tissues don’t fully meet, creating a cleft lip. This might be a small notch or a large gap that reaches the nose.

Other times, the roof of the mouth doesn’t completely join, leading to a cleft palate. This can cause a split in the soft and/or hard palate.

Some babies are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. It can look different, like a unilateral (one side) or a bilateral (both sides) cleft.

Types of Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and palate have different types, based on where they are and how serious they are:

• Unilateral Cleft Lip: A cleft that occurs on one side of the lip.
• Bilateral Cleft Lip: A cleft that occurs on both sides of the lip.
• Incomplete Cleft Lip: A smaller cleft, often called a “notch”.
• Complete Cleft Lip: A cleft that goes from the lip to the nose, creating a big gap.
• Unilateral Cleft Palate: A cleft on one side of the palate.
• Bilateral Cleft Palate: A cleft on both sides of the palate.
• Complete Cleft Palate: A cleft that goes through the whole palate, involving the soft and hard parts.

Knowing how cleft lip and palate looks and the different types is key to diagnosis and treatment planning for people with these conditions.

Treating cleft lip and cleft palate

A cleft lip or palate can be fixed in different ways. The choice depends on the child’s age and how serious the cleft is. Cleft lip and palate surgery closes the gap and rebuilds the lip and/or palate. This type of surgery happens often within the first year of life.

Before surgery, non-surgical treatments like nasal alveolar molding can be used. It shapes the lips, gums, and nose to make the cleft less severe. This treatment guides how the tissues grow with a special device, making surgery more successful.

Kids with a cleft palate might need more than one surgery. These extra surgeries work on how the lips, mouth, and nose look and work. They can make it easier to talk, eat, and look better.

Speech therapy is also important. It helps kids learn to make the right speech sounds. A speech therapist helps fix any speech problems from the cleft. They use special activities to help the child talk better.

Stem cell therapy for cleft lip and palate is a new area that looks promising. Stem cells might fix the damaged parts, helping them heal. But we need more studies to know if this is both safe and effective. Still, it could be a great step forward in treating cleft lip and palate.

Conclusion

Cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects. They affect the lip or the roof of the mouth. Genes and the things around us can both cause these conditions. Finding them early is very important for the right care. A 20-week ultrasound can spot cleft issues before birth.

Doctors often use surgery to fix cleft lip and cleft palate. They may perform facial surgery or use special mouth molds. These help close the gap and rebuild the area. For some kids, speaking clearly might need extra help. Speech therapy can make a big difference for them.

The idea of using stem cells to treat cleft lip and cleft palate is exciting. But, we still need to learn more about it. Stem cell therapy could open new doors for better care. But, even now, with the right help, kids with cleft conditions can live well. They can beat the tough challenges they face.