Zika virus infection during pregnancy is now known to cause congenital microcephaly and severe brain defects. In 2016, rates of microcephaly appeared to start increasing around May, peaking in July, and declining through December. The occurrence of microcephaly appears to have increased nearly 4-fold in 2 large cities in Colombia, concurrently with the reported Zika virus epidemic in the country.
OFC is a highly prevalent anomaly in Colombia, with a range of maternal and infant differences across case subgroups. The identification of important OFC subgroups that follow certain patterns of prevalence may prove useful to primary and tertiary care facilities with the goal of reducing further disability.
Congenital heart diseases have a significant impact on childhood morbidity and mortality. Although the prevalence continues to be low compared to other countries, this could be due to under registry nationwide. There was an increase in prevalence during the previous three years, which might be explained by the implementation of local and national programs. Therefore, we suggest continuing the development and promotion of such programs aimed at increasing screening and registration of these anomalies.
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