Identifying and definitional attributes
|Metadata item type:||Glossary Item|
|Synonymous names:||Birth defect; developmental anomaly; congenital malformation|
|Registration status:||WA Health, Endorsed 04/03/2014|
A congenital anomaly is one or more of a diverse group of structural or functional disorders of prenatal origin which can be caused by single gene defects, chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance, environmental teratogens and micronutrient deficiencies. An anomaly is a departure from normal development.
A congenital anomaly can be present at conception or occur before the end of pregnancy. They may be diagnosed during pregnancy, or after stillbirth or termination of pregnancy, or after live birth. The anomaly diagnosed in pregnancy may be the reason for a termination of pregnancy.
Source and reference attributes
|Submitting organisation:||WA Health|
This glossary term is based on publications by the World Health Organisation and the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies.
The Western Australian Register of Development Anomalies provides more information at http://kemh.health.wa.gov.au/services/register_developmental_anomalies/index.htm
Further information from the World Health Organisation can be found at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs370/en/