EA/TEF
About Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula
EA/TEF is a rare congenital birth defect which affects approximately 1 in 4,000 babies. Nobody knows what causes this abnormality.
In babies who have esophageal atresia ("ee-sof-ah-gee-all at-tree-see-ah"), the esophagus doesn't connect to the stomach. It just ends in a pouch, so nothing the baby swallows gets into the stomach.
A fistula is a connection between 2 tubes. The breathing tube that connects the nose and mouth with the lungs is called the trachea. The swallowing tube is the esophagus. The breathing tube and the swallowing tube aren't supposed to be connected. But when a child has a tracheoesophageal fistula ("tray-key-oh-ee-sof-ah-gee-all fist-you-lah"), the fistula connects the 2 tubes. This means that food or milk in the stomach can get into the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and even pneumonia.
Doctors are not yet sure exactly what causes these problems. When the esophagus and the trachea grow in the embryo, they start from the same bit of tissue. Sometimes the tubes don't develop correctly. It's not thought that these problems are inherited.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/birth/345.htm
To learn more about EA/TEF, visit www. EATEF.org
EA/TEF is a rare congenital birth defect which affects approximately 1 in 4,000 babies. Nobody knows what causes this abnormality.
In babies who have esophageal atresia ("ee-sof-ah-gee-all at-tree-see-ah"), the esophagus doesn't connect to the stomach. It just ends in a pouch, so nothing the baby swallows gets into the stomach.
A fistula is a connection between 2 tubes. The breathing tube that connects the nose and mouth with the lungs is called the trachea. The swallowing tube is the esophagus. The breathing tube and the swallowing tube aren't supposed to be connected. But when a child has a tracheoesophageal fistula ("tray-key-oh-ee-sof-ah-gee-all fist-you-lah"), the fistula connects the 2 tubes. This means that food or milk in the stomach can get into the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and even pneumonia.
Doctors are not yet sure exactly what causes these problems. When the esophagus and the trachea grow in the embryo, they start from the same bit of tissue. Sometimes the tubes don't develop correctly. It's not thought that these problems are inherited.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/birth/345.htm
To learn more about EA/TEF, visit www. EATEF.org
