Factors that can cause birth defects include maternal illnesses and exposure to certain medicines KATIE COLLINS/PAIreland lacks a national register that would act as an early warning system to the causes of birth defects, according to public health experts. An HSE advisory group, known as the health medicine environment and health group, has said that a national register is needed to record, analyse and spot trends of congenital anomalies. This would help to assess potential threats from environmental factors, including chemicals and medications. Birth defects are a major cause of infant mortality, childhood disease and long-term disability and are estimated to occur in 2-3 per cent of all live births and between 14 per cent and 24 per cent of stillbirths. Factors that can cause congenital anomalies include maternal illnesses, some infectious diseases and exposure to certain medicines.

Source: The Times January 17, 2018 00:00 UTC