Question

Explain the life-time burden of living with spina-bifida. What might the family and child expect in the course of a life-time?

Answer 1

Spina bifida is a congenital disorder due to defects in neural tube closure. Spina bifida depending ln the severity may result in liwer limb paralysis, bladder incontinence and developmental impairments.
Patients with spina bifida may have ambulatory problems due to lower limb involvement which results in life time burden care givers to ambulate the patient. Also such patients find it difficult to participate in the society to their fullest.
Incontinence is another life time burden in spina bifida patient. Such patients are life time dependwnt on catheters, diapers to manage incontinence. The problem also limits their participation in the society.
Spina bifida patients can have developmental impairments such as cognitive impairments or sexual impairments. Such children find it difficult to adjust with children of same age and require special care and attention.
Patients with spina bifida can become dependent on caregivers of daily activities and thus adds the burden. They also find it difficult to become financially independent as they may find it hard to take up jobs.