July is Craniofacial Awareness Month

By Angelo Consiglio

A board-certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon based in Key West and Marathon, Florida, and now will be moving to Jackson Hospital in Marianna, Florida. Angelo Consiglio, MD has been in private practice for over 25 years. Prior to establishing his own practice, Dr. Angelo Consiglio completed a fellowship in otolaryngology at Loyola University Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, an organization for medical professionals who provide services such as cleft lip and palate treatments.

Introduction

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, and each year the medical community comes together to raise awareness about this single most common birth defect in the world. Each year, about 7,000 children in the United States are born with either a cleft lip or palate (the hard tissue on the roof of the mouth), resulting in facial deformities and potential difficulties with eating, speaking, breathing, and hearing.

Craniofacial Awareness Month

Cleft lips and palates are often treated in infancy, though children with more severe clefts may require subsequent procedures to correct later health issues. While the exact causes of cleft lips and palates are not clear, potential risk factors of having a baby with craniofacial issues include diabetes, smoking, maternal thyroid disease, and a history of clomiphene citrate (a fertility medication).

Conclusion