Epidemiology of Cleft Lip and Palate in Pediatric Patients ? A Hospital Based Study

Prevalence of this congenital CL/P deformity is reported as 0.5-2 per 1000 live births depending on the countrys population. Cleft lip and palate is more frequent in Asian countries (2.1 in 1000), as compared to African and American countries. This work was carried out at, over a period of 5 years. The study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the hospital. A total number of 1800 patients including primary and secondary cleft lip and palate were investigated. The details of the subjects in terms of history, clinical features and haematological investigations were recorded on an investigator-designed proforma, after obtaining an informed consent from the patient. From a total of 2800 cases, 40 children with CL P were examined between the study periods. According to this incidence, the confidence interval by the probability 95 % was 1.9-2.34 per 1000 live births. The age of patients ranged from 1 day to 15 years. Majority of the cases were females. It as been found that CLP were more common representing followed by CL, CP and rare cleft in both sexes.