Cleft Palate/Cleft Lip

What is a cleft palate/lip?

A cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip is when a slit occurs on the upper lip. A cleft palate/lip is one of the most common birth defects. They occur in utero when the palate or lip of the developing fetus fails to fuse together as they should.

There are several causes of a cleft palate/lip: including family history, genetic syndrome, and exposure to alcohol or other toxic substances through the mother in utero. Other factors related to the health of the mother, including obesity and diabetes, are believed to be possible causes as well although research into these factors is ongoing.

Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.

The mouth is a part of the GastroIntestinal tract of the digestive system of the body, a system that includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The digestive system is what makes it possible for the body to eat and digest essential nutrients from food.

Sometimes symptoms affecting the mouth can be seen with the eye. Although diagnosing a mouth-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.

Symptoms relating to the mouth may affect its structure, shape, and/ or function. Some features will affect just the appearance of the mouth while others may affect its ability to function properly as a part of the digestive system.

What should I do next?

In some instances, a cleft palate or lip may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Cleft Palate/Cleft Lip, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist.  Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis.  FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.

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Synonyms:
Split lip, split palate
Related syndromes:

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