Birth defects surveillance: quick reference handbook of selected congenital anomalies and infections

Overview

Congenital anomalies, also known as birth defects, are structural or functional abnormalities, including metabolic disorders, that are present from birth. Congenital anomalies are a diverse group of disorders of prenatal origin that can be caused by single gene defects, chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance, environmental teratogens or micronutrient malnutrition.

This Quick Reference Handbook of Selected Congenital Anomalies and Infections is a companion tool to Birth defects surveillance: a manual for programme managers, and is intended for use by front-line health care professionals who are diagnosing and collecting data on congenital defects and infections.

1. identify an initial list of congenital anomalies to consider for monitoring;
2. describe the tools needed to define and code identified cases;
3. define specific congenital anomalies under surveillance.