WHAT IS CLEFT? > Causes of cleft 

Cleft lip and palate

Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common human birth defects. Facial clefts can affect the upper lip, the bones of the maxilla (the upper jaw) and the hard and soft upper palate (the roof of the mouth). They can occur in various combinations and severity, on either the left or the right hand side of the face or on both sides.

Cleft children are born on all continents and in each and every country of the world. How common cleft is varies. In Europe it is assumed that one in every 500 to 600 births are affected. In Asia these numbers are probably considerably higher, in Africa they are estimated to be somewhat lower. The most affected areas are those with bad environmental conditions: regions poisoned with dioxins or coal dust or, for different reasons, those lying at high altitudes, such as the Andes or Himalaya mountains.



Causes of cleft lips and palates

It is still not fully understood what actually causes cleft lips and palates. We know that the risk of a cleft deformation is increased by environment factors such as pollution of the living environment and food, hypoxia (low oxygen supply) of the embryo for people living high up in the mountains, and the mother not being able to afford healthy food (folic acid and vitamin C deficiency), as well as possibly a genetic contribution.

Cleft lip and palate develops during the fourth week of pregnancy, when the separate parts of the face join together starting from the outside and proceeding inwards. If the embryo’s development is disturbed during this phase the layers of tissue may not fuse completely. The various types of cleft are then the visible result.



Causes of cleft lips and palates
Causes of cleft lips and palates