Prevalence of minor congenital anomalies in children with hyperactivity

A congenital anomaly is a physical, metabolic, or anatomic deviation from the normal pattern of development that is present at birth. Minor congenital anomalies do not have medical or cosmetic importance, but detection of more than three such anomalies may reveal the prenatal origin of a disorder. The aim of the present study was to establish an association between the presence of minor congenital anomalies and hyperactivity, learning disabilities and attention deficit. 219 patients aged between 7 and 18 years were examined for the presence of minor congenital anomalies and compared to a control group. The frequencies of these anomalies were not significantly different in the two groups. The mean values of minor congenital anomalies per child were significantly different: 2.5 in children with learning disabilities, 4 in those with learning disabilities and attention deficit and hyperactivity, 1.05 in the control group. Prevention is the best approach to congenital anomalies. As a positive correlation could be established, it was concluded that the presence of minor congenital anomalies especially more than three, may predict the future onset of these disorders.