Cleft lip and palate are facial and oral malformations that may occur separately or together. They may also occur in association with other syndromes or birth defects. The cause of these malformations may be mutant genes or teratogens (an agent that causes abnormalities in a developing fetus, such as certain viruses or chemicals).
As well as being disfiguring, these abnormalities can cause feeding difficulties, problems with speech development, and ear infections. Risk factors include a family history of cleft lip or palate and presence of another birth defect. The incidence of cleft lip and palate varies with different races; approximately 1 out of 1,000 Caucasians are affected. The incidence of cleft palate alone is 1 out of 2,500 people.
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