Kids' Health Print Congenital Conditions and Diseases Written by twitter linkedin Written by Mark Stibich, PhD Mark Stibich, PhD, FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements. Learn about our editorial policy Mark Stibich, PhD Updated on December 06, 2019 JGI / Tom Grill / Blend Images More in Kids' Health Cold & Flu Chicken Pox Childhood Obesity & Overweight Kids Fever Head Lice Measles Kids' Skin Health Common Childhood Infections Commonly Prescribed Drugs Teen Health Issues Special Needs Health Issues Preemie Health Issues View All Congenital refers to a condition or disease which is present at birth. The condition can be inherited (genetic) or caused by environmental factors. Some maternal infections, such as HIV, can be passed onto the child and cause a congenital condition. Maternal factors such as alcohol or drug consumption, nutritional intake and placental health can all cause congenital problems Examples Congenital heart defects are those which affect the structure of the heart and the way blood flows through it. Ranging from minor—with no symptoms—to life-threatening, these are the most common type of birth defectCleft lip and palate, which affect the development of the roof of the mouth and upper lip. A cleft lip can be caused by genes passed down from the parents, environmental toxins, viruses or may occur in concert with other birth defects.Neural tube defects such as spina bifidaDown Syndrome caused by an extra chromosome The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about half of all congenital anomalies can be linked to a specific cause, such as infection, malnutrition or alcohol exposure, all of which can lead to abnormal development within the womb. The WHO has pushed member states for better prevention of congenital problems—and the improved care of babies with these conditions—attributing 276,000 newborn deaths worldwide to such anomalies in the year 2013. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Congenital. US National Institutes of Health Genetic Home Reference Glossary. Congenital Anomalies. World Health Organization Public Information Sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs370/en/ What Are Congenital Heart Defects? US NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Public Information Sheet. Continue Reading