Cleft Lip and Palate

An hole in the top lip that may reach the nose characterises a cleft lip. One side, all sides, or the centre may have the opening. When the palate, or the roof of the mouth, has an opening into the nose, the condition is known as a cleft palate. Orofacial cleft can refer to one ailment or to both when they coexist.

Feeding issues, speech issues, hearing issues, and recurrent ear infections can arise from these conditions. Only 50% of the time is the ailment accompanied by additional illnesses.

The failure of the tissues of the face to properly unite during development leads to cleft lip and palate. They are thus a kind of birth defect. In most situations, there is no identified reason. Pregnancy-related risk factors include smoking, diabetes, obesity, an older mother, and several drugs (such as some used to treat seizures). Using an ultrasound examination, cleft lip and cleft palate may frequently be identified during pregnancy.