Prune Belly Syndrome, also known as Dry Prune Abdomen Syndrome, is a rare and serious condition in which the baby is born with deficiency or even absence of muscles in the wall of the abdomen, leaving like the intestines and bladder only covered by the skin . This disease has a cure when diagnosed early and the child can lead a normal life.
Prune Belly Syndrome is more common in male babies, and in these cases may also prevent the lowering or development of the testicles, which can be bypassed with hormonal therapy and surgery, as it will allow the testicles to occupy their correct place not scrotum.
Causes of Prune Belly Syndrome
Prune Belly syndrome has not yet a known cause, but may be associated with cocaine use during pregnancy or simply poor genetic formation.
Treatment of Prune Belly Syndrome
The treatment of Prune Belly Syndrome can be done through surgery that helps to remodel the wall of the abdomen and urinary tract, creating a muscle in the abdomen to support the skin and protect the organs. In addition, to prevent urinary infections that are common in babies born with this syndrome, the doctor do a vesicostomy, which is the introduction of a catheter into the bladder for the urine to go out through the abdomen.
Physical therapy is also part of the treatment to cure Prune belly syndrome, being important to strengthen muscles, increase respiratory capacity and cardiovascular efficiency.
How is the diagnosis of Prune Belly Syndrome
The doctor discovers that the baby has this syndrome on ultrasonography during the prenatal examination. A classic sign that the baby has this disease is that this one has a non-standard belly, very swollen and large.
However, when the diagnosis is not made when the baby is still in the mother's belly, it is usually done when the baby is born and has difficulty breathing and a soft, swollen belly with a different consistency than usual.
Symptoms of Prune Belly Syndrome
Prune Belly Syndrome can cause symptoms such as:
- Poor formation in the bones and muscles of the abdomen;
- Malfunction of the kidneys;
- Breathing problems;
- Problems in the functioning of the heart;
- Urinary tract infections and severe urinary tract problems;
- Urine out of the navel scar;
- No descent of the testicles;
These symptoms, when left untreated, can lead to the death of the baby at birth, or a few months after birth.
