Spina Bifida | 09 Jan 2026

Source: TH

Recently, health experts highlighted that India has one of the world’s highest prevalence rates(~4 per 1,000 births) of Spina Bifida, with over 25,000 children affected every year.

• About: Spina Bifida is a congenital neural tube defect in which the spinal cord fails to close completely during early fetal development.
• Symptoms: Affected children may develop hydrocephalus (excess fluid in the brain), urinary and bowel incontinence(lack of control), a visible swelling or lump on the baby’s back, club foot and other orthopaedic deformities, with severity ranging from mild weakness to complete paraplegia.
• Impact: It leads to partial or complete paralysis of the lower limbs, often resulting in wheelchair-dependence from early childhood. Though their intellectual abilities remain normal, over 75% of affected children in India lack access to specialised medical and surgical care, pushing families into prolonged financial and emotional distress. The condition significantly increases under-five mortality, disability burden, and long-term healthcare costs.
• Prevention: Global medical evidence since 1991 confirms that periconceptional folic acid supplementation can prevent over 70% of Spina Bifida cases.
• Emerging Research: Recent studies indicate that fortifying commonly consumed beverages like tea with folate and Vitamin B12 could help prevent anaemia and neural tube defects in India.