Cleft lip is a birth defect formed at gestational stage due to incomplete facial development. It is caused by failure in the fusion of body structure. It can be partial or complete, unilateral or bilateral. Cleft lip is seen in about one in 600 births.
Depending on the gap or indentation in the lip, cleft lips are classified accordingly. A small gap in the lip that does not affect the palate formation of the mouth is a partial or incomplete cleft. When the gap extends until the nose, it is complete cleft. The cleft may appear on one side of the maxillary region (unilateral cleft) or covering both sides (bilateral cleft).
Though cleft lip is shocking to the new parents, it is a corrigible by surgical procedure. As it may affect the feeding habit of the baby, the corrective surgery should be done without much delay. Doctors can close the cleft and restore the lip movements and functions with only traces of scar.
Clefts occur in the first three months of gestation, when the maxillary region fuse together to form the upper lip. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this failure in fusion. Genes causing cleft lips may be inherited from mother or father. Exposure of the mother to cigarette smoke, alcohol, illegal drugs, viruses or certain medicines during the first trimester of pregnancy can result in a cleft. Malnourished mothers also give birth to cleft-lipped babies.
Family history, race and sex play an important role in the occurrence of cleft lip. While people of African origin are least likely to have cleft lips, those of Hispanic, American Indian or Asian descent are the high-risk groups. Males are more likely to have cleft lips than females.
Normally cleft lips are evident at birth and the treatment procedure start immediately. Rare forms of cleft that are hidden in the lining of the mouth may not be apparent at birth. Babies with this malformation will have trouble with feeding and speech. They will also have excess nasal discharge and they tend to speak with a nasal twang. When these signs are noticed, a doctor should be consulted.
Cleft lip requires treatment as it is both a cosmetic and physical problem. Other than feeding and speech development, babies with cleft will have repeated ear infections, which may result in loss of hearing. Tooth development will be affected if the cleft extends to the upper gum. Cleft-lipped children show behavioral problems and are reclusive.
As the problem is evident in the majority of the cases at birth itself, the ideal period to schedule surgery is before they complete three months. Follow-up surgeries may be required depending on individual cases. These are normally done after 2 years of age. The child may need additional therapies for improving speech and social behavior.
As it is not possible to predict the exact circumstances that result in a cleft-lipped baby, it is no use blaming oneself. The child needs the emotional support to cope with the physical and emotional problems.
