title: Risk factors involved in orofacial cleft predisposition - review.
abstract: Clefts that occur in children are a special topic. Avoiding risk factors, and also an early diagnosis of cleft possibility can result in minimizing or avoiding them. If on the other hand when clefts occur they require a long-term, multistage specialized treatment. Etiology of clefts seems to be related to many factors. Factors such as genetic, environmental, geographic and even race factors are important. Identification of risk factors can lead to prevention and prophylactic behaviors in order to minimize its occurrence. Exposure to environmental factors at home and work that lead to cleft predisposition should not be disregarded. It seems that before planning a family it would be wise to consult with doctors of different specializations, especially in high-risk families with cleft history in order to analyze previous lifestyle. Clefts are very common in hereditary facial malformations and are causing a lot of other irregularities in the head and neck region. In this paper after a brief papers review authors present socio-geographic, environmental and also work place related factors that are influencing pregnant women condition and should be taken under serious consideration.
authors.affiliation: Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland, Department of Hygiene, Silesian Piast's Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawalec
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Silesian Piast's Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nelke
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Silesian Piast's Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawlas
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Silesian Piast's Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerber
keywords: Clefts; environmental factors; lifestyle; predisposing factors; risk factors