Infant Hairy Patch on Back as a Birth Disorder Symptom

There are some cases where your child may be born with fine hair. This presents itself shortly after birth, but these hairs will normally fall off as the child grows older. Still, it is important to pay close attention to hairy patches on the back. While it could be nothing, there are instances where it indicates something more serious. One thing to know about a hairy patch on the back is that it could be an indication of spina bifida, a debilitating condition. If your child suffers from this disease, he or she may be born with the spinal cord that is visible outside of the body.

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Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a medical term that refers to unusual development in the spine, nerves surrounding the back area, or the vertebrae. A hairy patch on an infant’s back may indicate this condition. Fortunately, in some cases, it may be benign. But other times, it could be serious. In cases where children have a severe case of spina bifida, they will also have symptoms like paralysis, numbness, or weakness in the limbs. As mentioned before, the nerves could also come out of the back as a bulge. However, doctors will rarely fail to notice this. In fact, this signature bulge in the back has become one of the most common ways that doctors diagnose this condition.

What Do You Do if Your Child Has This Condition?

Spina bifida can range from mild to severe cases and varies from child to child.  It occurs when the spinal column does not form properly. Normally, the neural tube will develop early in pregnancy, and it will close by the 28th day. A baby that has spina bifida won’t have the neural tube closed properly.

Typically, doctors will treat spina bifida through surgery and ongoing physical therapy. They will normally avoid surgery for the milder cases because it may pose more risks to the child.

The Risks

In general, spina bifida occurs more often in Hispanic and Caucasian children than other races. Also, females will usually be at a higher risk for this condition than males. Doctors still haven’t learned why this condition occurs. But, they have identified some associated risk factors. For example, certain types of medication can cause this problem – like valproic acid. Women who have diabetes and don’t take steps to control it during pregnancy could also put their child at a higher risk. Some other risk factors include:

  • Obesity
  • Folate deficiency
  • Family history of neural tube defects
  • Increased body temperature

In some cases, a hair patch on your baby’s back does not indicate anything concerning. However, it is important to have your child evaluated by a  doctor to determine the diagnosis. If your child was born with a birth disorder, someone may be at fault. Discuss your case with a professional today to learn more. t is critical to always take birth injuries seriously because they can lead to serious health problems, like cerebral palsy. This is a serious neurological disorder that can cause a child to have a lifelong disability. That’s just one of the many reasons that you want to get this condition diagnosed as soon as possible.

Article Citations

  1. Data and Statistics on Spina Bifida, CDC

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