Contemporary Themes: Congenital Malformations and the Problem of their Control

Abstract

The first is that in the developed countries as the tide of mortality from infectious disease has receded malformations have been left exposed as the leading and therefore most challenging cause of death and disability in infancy and childhood. For example, in England and Wales about one-quarter of all deaths between the 28th week of pregnancy and the end of the first year of postnatal life are now attributable to these conditions. Next, there is much evidence to suggest that they have a large environmental component in their aetiology, and this appears to offer the hope that they may be prevented or at least subjected to some measure of control, as the infectious diseases have been controlled. Thirdly, for some of the major malformations advances in surgical and other therapeutic techniques are proving of life-saving if not always of life-enhancing importance. Reliable information about the frequency with which they occur and the results of treatment is therefore of great importance.The final reason is that I know a little about the subject-a necessary if not sufficient reason for a public lecture. When I

Potato cultivation and storage in South Wales and its relation to neural tube malformation prevalence.

“…During the period of the study 743 singleton infants were ascertained as having neural tube malformation (out of a total birth population of 90,921 singletons), of whom 336 lived in Glamorgan. One control for each Glamoigan case was selected and matched for social class, parity, place of birth, and month of birth; maternal age had not been found to be related significantly to the prevalence of neural tube malformations (Lowe, 1972).…”

“…During the period of the study 743 singleton infants were ascertained as having neural tube malformation (out of a total birth population of 90,921 singletons), of whom 336 lived in Glamorgan. One control for each Glamoigan case was selected and matched for social class, parity, place of birth, and month of birth; maternal age had not been found to be related significantly to the prevalence of neural tube malformations (Lowe, 1972).A short questionnaire was prepared asking about the amount of homegrown potatoes eaten, length of time potatoes were stored before being eaten, and whether the child's father or grandfather had an allotment. The questions were asked in relation to the time of the infant's birth .…”