Spina Bifida Occulta: The Hidden Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that can affect the spine, brain, bladder, bowels, muscles, and other body parts. Spina Bifida comes in three forms with mengingocele and myelomeningocele being the most apparent and damaging. However, the third form of Spina Bifida is known as the hidden form of Spina Bifida because there are no outward indicators of its presence when a child is born. This form is known as Spina Bifida occulta, and can affect many of the body systems of someone who is diagnosed with the condition.

Visible Indicators of Spina Bifida

When a child is born with myelomeningocele or meningocele, doctors are immediately able to tell that there is a problem. Spina Bifida is a failure of the spinal canal to fully form during gestation. In meningocele, the spine is located outside of the spinal canal, causing a bulge that is visible to physicians after the birth of a baby. With myelomeningocele, the spine is completely outside of the body, which requires emergency surgery to correct. With Spina Bifida occulta, these problems are not present and diagnosis may be delayed by as much as several years. Depending on the severity of the defect, some people who have Spina Bifida occulta are never diagnosed at all.

Diagnosing Spina Bifida Occulta

Diagnosis of Spina Bifida occulta usually happens when a child experiences problems that could be related to the condition. Children who don’t walk until a late age or have problems with urinary or bowel incontinence may be tested for Spina Bifida specifically, or the diagnosis may be made during other diagnostic tests. X-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans are all capable of helping doctors diagnose the presence of Spina Bifida Occulta.

Treating Spina Bifida Occulta

The treatment for Spina Bifida occulta will depend on the severity of the condition and the symptoms a child is experiencing. Some children are unable to walk on their own as a result of Spina Bifida and must use wheelchairs, braces, or walkers. Others have problems with bowel or bladder incontinence. They may have to catheterize to drain urine from the bladder or use a colostomy bag to collect waste from the bowel. Other problems may include muscle weakness, numbness or loss of sensation, frequent stumbling, and pain. These symptoms are treated as necessary with the goal of improving the child’s quality of life as much as possible.

Preventing Spina Bifida

There are some preventive measures expectant mothers can take to minimize the risk of having a child with Spina Bifida. Folic acid is an important mineral that must be taken to prevent nerual tube defects. Pregnant women can increase their intake by taking a multivitamin or eating foods rich in folic acid. Pregnant women should also avoid taking baths in very hot water, or using hot tubs, as this has been linked to Spina Bifida.