Cleft Lip and Palate

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Cleft Lip and Palate

Children across the world are born with some type of cleft, whether it is lip or palate. The number of surgeons repairing clefts has increased in the past decade, providing services for those in India with clefts. According to WebMD, it can be more common on some ethnicities, like Asian, Latino or Native American descent, than others, but it is less common in those with African American descent (WebMD). Cultures see it different ways too. According to Olivia Linderoth of Operation Smiles, in Rwanda, a baby, Challone, was born with a cleft lip. He’s just 4 months old and people in their village are afraid of Challone and think that if they just take a quick glance at him, they will be brought bad fortune. Challone’s parents want to fix this problem, though, to show their village that their son does not bring bad luck upon people. Many don’t know what causes clefts. Challone’s parents didn’t understand why their baby was born with a cleft lip but their older son wasn’t. His mom suspected it was a genetic condition because her cousin has an untreated cleft lip. They want to fix Challone’s lip, but they have to travel for hours to fix it and give him a normal life (Linderoth).

Clefts affect one in 700 babies annually in the United States. A cleft is a disorder where tissue doesn’t form, with it being the fourth most common birth defect in the United States (WebMD). According to MedlinePlus, it can happen in the upper lip, or the soft or hard palate. It is possible to have both, rather than one and it can be on one side or both sides (MedlinePlus). According to the CDC, a cleft lip is the most common and can also be in the middle, but it rarely happens (Facts). According to the Children’s Hospital in Vanderbilt,...

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