Environmental factors associated with cleft lip and palate in children treated at the William Soler Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate is the most prevalent craniofacial congenital defect worldwide. It consists of a labial or palatal cleft, even a combination of both. It is currently known that cleft lip and palate have multifactorial causes, which include both genetic and environmental factors, which influence the first trimester of pregnancy. Objective: To describe environmental factors in patients with cleft lip and palate treated at the William Soler Pediatric Hospital, in the period between 2021 and 2022. Methodological design: Descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study in patients with a diagnosis of cleft lip and palate. The sample was characterized taking into account sex, type of fissure, maternal toxic habits, exposure to radiation, mechanical injuries and environmental toxins, drug consumption, as well as acute and chronic maternal diseases. Data collected during interrogation and physical examination were used. Results: isolated palatal clefts represented 50.5%. 13.7% of mothers smoked during the first trimester of pregnancy, while 10.5% consumed alcohol. High blood pressure (25%) was the most common maternal chronic disease while 41% were diagnosed with vaginal moniliasis. Conclusions: Isolated cleft palate and considerable tobacco and alcohol consumption among pregnant women predominated. Among the chronic diseases, there was a predominance of high blood pressure, the most frequent infectious diseases were vaginal moniliasis and urinary tract infections, and there was a high frequency of the consumption of clotrimazole and oral contraceptives.