Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones of the spine do not form properly around the baby's spinal cord. It can range from mild, with no visible defects or problems, to severe, where parts of the spinal cord and nerves push through an opening in the spine. Severe spina bifida can cause problems walking, bladder and bowel control, and coordination. While the exact cause is unknown, folic acid intake before and during pregnancy can help prevent spina bifida. Treatment depends on severity but may include surgery, braces, physical therapy, and managing related issues like bladder control or mobility.

1. SPINA BIFIDA
FIZI & SYAFIQ

2. WHAT IS SPINA BIFIDA?
• SPINA BIFIDA IS A BIRTH DEFECT.
• MOST CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPINA BIFIDA DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS FROM IT.
• IT OCCURS WHEN THE BONES OF THE SPINE (VERTEBRAE) DO NOT FORM
PROPERLY AROUND PART OF THE BABY’S SPINAL CORD.
• IT CAN AFFECT HOW THE SKIN ON THE BACK LOOKS. AND IN SEVERE CASES, IT
CAN MAKE WALKING OR DAILY ACTIVITIES HARD TO DO WITHOUT HELP.

3. THE DISEASE CAN BE MILD
OR SEVERE.

4. MILD
• THE MILD FORM IS THE MORE COMMON FORM.
• IT USUALLY DOES NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS OR NEED TREATMENT.
• YOU CAN'T SEE THE DEFECT.
• SO MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE IT UNTIL THEY GET A BACK X-RAY
FOR ANOTHER REASON.

5. SEVERE
THE SEVERE FORMS ARE LESS COMMON. THERE ARE TWO TYPES:
• MENINGOCELE (SAY "MUH-NIN-JUH-SEEL"). FLUID LEAKS OUT OF THE SPINE AND
PUSHES AGAINST THE SKIN. YOU MAY SEE A BULGE IN THE SKIN. IN MANY CASES,
THERE ARE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS.
• MYELOMENINOCELE (SAY "MY-UH-LOH-MUH-NIN-JUH-SEEL"). ALTHOUGH THIS IS
THE MOST RARE AND SEVERE FORM OF SPINA BIFIDA, IT IS THE FORM MOST
PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THEY SAY "SPINA BIFIDA." PART OF THE SPINAL NERVES PUSH
OUT OF THE SPINAL CANAL, AND YOU MAY SEE A BULGE IN THE SKIN. THE NERVES
ARE OFTEN DAMAGED, WHICH CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH WALKING, BLADDER
OR BOWEL CONTROL, AND COORDINATION. IN SOME BABIES, THE SKIN IS OPEN
AND THE NERVES ARE EXPOSED.

6. WHAT CAUSES SPINA BIFIDA
• THE EXACT CAUSE OF THIS BIRTH DEFECT IS NOT KNOWN. EXPERTS THINK
THAT GENES AND THE ENVIRONMENT ARE PART OF THE CAUSE.
• FOR EXAMPLE, WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD ONE CHILD WITH SPINA BIFIDA ARE
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD WITH THE DISEASE. WOMEN WHO ARE
OBESE OR WHO HAVE DIABETES ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A CHILD
WITH SPINA BIFIDA.

7. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
• YOUR CHILD’S SYMPTOMS WILL DEPEND ON HOW SEVERE THE DEFECT IS.
WITH A MILD DEFECT, YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS OR PROBLEMS.
OR YOUR CHILD MIGHT HAVE A DIMPLE, A BIRTHMARK, OR A HAIRY PATCH ON
HIS OR HER BACK.
• IN SEVERE CASES, YOU MAY SEE NERVES COMING OUT OF YOUR CHILD’S
BACK OR SWELLING ON THE SPINE. A CHILD WITH A SEVERE DEFECT MAY
HAVE NERVE DAMAGE THAT AFFECTS DAILY LIVING. THE CHILD MAY HAVE
LITTLE OR NO FEELING IN THE LEGS, FEET, OR ARMS. AND HE OR SHE MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE PARTS OF THE BODY.

8. • CHILDREN WITH A SEVERE DEFECT ARE SOMETIMES BORN WITH FLUID BUILD-
UP IN THE BRAIN (HYDROCEPHALUS). THEY MAY ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM
AFTER BIRTH. IT CAN CAUSE SEIZURES, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, OR SIGHT
PROBLEMS. SOME CHILDREN ALSO GET A CURVE IN THE SPINE, SUCH AS
SCOLIOSIS.
• MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE SEVERE SPINA BIFIDA DEVELOP AN ALLERGY TO
LATEX (A TYPE OF RUBBER).

9. HOW IS SPINDA BIFIDA DIAGNOSED?
• A PREGNANT WOMAN CAN HAVE A BLOOD TEST (MATERNAL SERUM TRIPLE OR
QUADRUPLE SCREEN) AND A FETAL ULTRASOUND TO CHECK FOR SPINA BIFIDA
AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE FETUS.
• IF TEST RESULTS SUGGEST A BIRTH DEFECT, SHE CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE AN
AMNIOCENTESIS. THIS TEST HELPS CONFIRM IF SPINA BIFIDA EXISTS. BUT THE
TEST ALSO HAS RISKS, SUCH AS A CHANCE OF MISCARRIAGE.
• AFTER BIRTH, DOCTORS CAN TELL IF A BABY HAS SPINA BIFIDA BY HOW THE
BABY’S BACK LOOKS. THE DOCTOR MAY DO AN X-RAY, AN MRI, OR A CT SCAN
TO SEE IF THE DEFECT IS MILD OR SEVERE.

10. HOW SPINDA BIFIDA IS TREATED?
• TREATMENT DEPENDS ON HOW SEVERE THE DEFECT IS. MOST CHILDREN
WITH SPINA BIFIDA HAVE ONLY A MILD DEFECT AND MAY NOT NEED
TREATMENT. BUT A CHILD WITH A SEVERE DEFECT MAY NEED SURGERY. IF
YOUR CHILD HAS PROBLEMS FROM NERVE DAMAGE, HE OR SHE MAY NEED A
BRACE OR A WHEELCHAIR, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OR OTHER AIDS.

11. THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO
SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
• HELP YOUR CHILD BE ACTIVE AND EAT HEALTHY FOODS.
• GO TO ALL SCHEDULED DOCTOR VISITS.
• TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT EARLY TREATMENT. MOST CHILDREN WHO
HAVE SPINA BIFIDA AND THEIR PARENTS WORK WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS
PHYSICAL THERAPISTS OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS STARTING SOON
AFTER THE BABY IS BORN. THERAPISTS CAN TEACH PARENTS AND
CAREGIVERS HOW TO DO EXERCISES AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHILD.
• KEEP YOUR CHILD AWAY FROM LATEX PRODUCTS IF HE OR SHE HAS A LATEX
ALLERGY.

12. • IF YOUR CHILD HAS BLADDER CONTROL PROBLEMS, HELP HIM OR HER USE A
CATHETER EACH DAY. IT CAN HELP PREVENT INFECTION AND KIDNEY DAMAGE
IN YOUR CHILD.
• IF YOUR CHILD HAS LITTLE OR NO FEELING IN THE LIMBS AND CAN'T SENSE
PAIN, HE OR SHE MAY GET INJURED AND NOT KNOW IT. YOU MAY NEED TO
CHECK YOUR CHILD’S SKIN EACH DAY FOR CUTS, BRUISES, OR OTHER SORES.
• WHEN YOUR CHILD IS READY TO GO TO SCHOOL, TALK WITH TEACHERS AND
OTHER SCHOOL WORKERS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE
AGES 3 THROUGH 21 WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
• TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF SO YOU HAVE THE ENERGY TO ENJOY YOUR
CHILD AND ATTEND TO HIS OR HER NEEDS.
• ASK FOR HELP FROM SUPPORT GROUPS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS WHEN YOU
NEED IT.

13. HOW CAN YOU PREVENT SPINA BIFIDA?
BEFORE AND DURING PREGNANCY, A WOMAN CAN HELP PREVENT SPINA BIFIDA
IN HER CHILD.
• GET PLENTY OF FOLIC ACID EACH DAY. EAT FOODS RICH IN FOLIC ACID, SUCH
AS FORTIFIED BREAKFAST CEREALS AND BREADS, SPINACH, AND ORANGES.
YOUR DOCTOR MAY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALSO TAKE A DAILY VITAMIN WITH
FOLIC ACID OR A FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENT.
• IF YOU TAKE MEDICINE FOR SEIZURES OR ACNE, TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR
BEFORE YOU GET PREGNANT. SOME OF THESE MEDICINES CAN CAUSE BIRTH
DEFECTS.

14. • DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT. ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL
MAY AFFECT YOUR BABY’S HEALTH.
• DON'T LET YOUR BODY GET TOO HOT IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.
FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T USE A SAUNA OR TAKE A VERY HOT BATH. AND TREAT
HIGH FEVERS RIGHT AWAY. THE HEAT COULD RAISE YOUR BABY’S RISK FOR
SPINA BIFIDA.

15. THANK YOU 
SPINA BIFIDA – FIZI & SYAFIQ