Background: A cleft lip (CP) is characterized by a split in upper lip, which may extend into the nose. These abnormal fissures can cause difficulties with nutrition, hearing, speaking and recurrent respiratory and ear infections. Objectives: The study assessed the complications associated with the cleft palate in infants and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. Methods: The study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals and pediatric clinics at District Dera Ismail Khan, from February 2021 to September 2022, comprising 141 CP patients. Results: The incidence of CP was seen 7.90% in District Dera Ismail Khan, which was higher in males (68.08%) than in females (31.91%). The mean age of the study group was 4.35+3.12, with birth weight and weight at the time of assessment being 3.85+1.78 and 23.78+15.19, respectively. Their mean maternal age and weight at the time of delivery were 32.91+9.07 and 61.65+21.56, respectively. A significant proportion (p<0.05) suffered from aspiration pneumonia (64.53%), while 19.85% of the patients had complained of recurrent pneumonia due to CP. Other complications included chest infection (43.26%), ear infection (8.51%), nasal obstruction (31.91%), vomiting during feeding (26.95%) and regurgitation of milk and other food materials (12.05%). Ten CP patients died (7.09%) due to the complications associated with this disorder. Practical implications: For infants with orofacial clefts, the incidence of LRTIs is potentially high, thus accumulated breastfeeding length might mediate the connections of CP. Conclusion: It was concluded that CP was significantly associated with pulmonary defects and caused fatal LRTIs in the affected population, especially in breastfeeding infants. Keywords: Cleft palate; Ear infections; Fetal defects; Genetic Disorders; Pulmonary infections.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.