Ensuring that a baby is born with complete physical condition is something to be grateful for. However, there are some parents who find their child is born without a nipple. This condition is often referred to as athelia.
Congenital breast deformity can occur in one nipple. However, it is also possible for it to occur in both nipples. This condition generally does not interfere with the child’s health, but it can reduce self-confidence, especially during puberty and adolescence.
Definition of AtheliaAthelia is a condition where a person is born without one nipple (unilateral) or both (bilateral). It is a rare congenital disorder (present at birth) where the baby’s breasts do not develop properly and are missing the nipple and areola (the small ring around the nipple).
According to research published in the book Plastic Surgery: Volume 5: Breast in 2018, children with athelia usually have amastia. This condition is the absence of breasts and nipples.
SymptomAthelia manifests differently, depending on the condition that causes it. Typically, people with athelia lose their nipples and areolas. Nipples may be missing on one or both sides of the body. Additional symptoms may develop if the child has a genetic condition, which is specific to that disease.
Causes of AtheliaThis condition where there are no nipples can be caused by several genetic conditions that affect the DNA and development of the child, including:
Poland SyndromeThe syndrome is named after its discoverer, Alfred Poland, the English surgeon who first described it in the 1800s.
Researchers don’t know exactly what causes this syndrome. They think it may be caused by blood flow problems in the uterus during the baby’s sixth week of development.
Poland syndrome can affect the arteries that supply blood to a growing baby’s chest. It is thought that the lack of blood prevents the chest from developing normally. Rarely, Poland syndrome is caused by a genetic change that is passed down through families.
Children born with this condition have missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of their body. They are usually missing part of the chest muscle, called thepectoralis major.
Other symptoms of Poland syndrome include:
Missing or underdeveloped ribs on one side of the body Missing or underdeveloped breast and nipple on one side of the body Webbed fingers on one hand Short bones in the lower arm Sparse armpit hair Ectodermal DysplasiaEctodermal dysplasia is a group of more than 180 different genetic syndromes. They affect the development of skin, teeth, hair, nails, sweat glands, and other body parts.
They occur when the ectodermal layer of the embryo that gives rise to skin, teeth, hair, and other organs does not develop properly. People with ectodermal dysplasia may experience symptoms such as:
Thin hair Missing or deformed teeth Inability to sweat (hypohidrosis) Visual or hearing impairment Missing or underdeveloped fingers or toes Cleft lip or palate Unusual skin color Thin, brittle, cracked, or weakened nails Lack of breast development Difficulty breathing.A genetic mutation causes ectodermal dysplasia. This gene can be passed from parent to child or can mutate (change) during conception.
Other CausesOther causes of athelia include:
Progeria Syndrome . This condition causes people to age very quickly. Yunis Varon Syndrome . This rare, inherited condition affects the face, chest, and other parts of the body. Scalp-ear-nipple syndrome . This condition causes hairless patches to form on the scalp, underdeveloped ears, and missing nipples or breasts on both sides. Al-Awadi-Rass-Rothschild syndrome . This rare, inherited genetic condition occurs when bones do not form properly. Risk FactorsA child is more likely to be born with athelia if one of his parents has the condition that causes it.
Although athelia is rare overall, it is more common in children born with conditions such as Poland syndrome and ectodermal dysplasia. Poland syndrome is more common in boys than girls, but ectodermal dysplasia affects males and females equally.
Frequency of Athelia OccurrenceThis condition is rare. However, athelia caused by Poland syndrome affects about 1 in every 20,000 newborns.
DiagnosisIt is known that there is no way to diagnose athelia. However, when the baby is born, it can be seen with the naked eye.
Apart from that, quoting from the book Pediatric Surgery , breast development begins at around 35 days of gestation, when the ectoderm on the anterior body wall thickens into a protrusion known as the milk line, milk mound, or Hughes line.
Breast buds become palpable at 34 weeks of gestation. Meanwhile, nipples appear later at 8 months of gestation. Initially decreasing, then gradually increasing.
Meanwhile, athelia caused by Poland syndrome is diagnosed through a physical exam and imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays. CT scans and MRIs are helpful in telling doctors which muscle groups, bones, or body tissues are affected.
ComplicationsAthelia itself does not cause complications. However, some conditions that cause athelia can lead to health problems. For example, severe Poland syndrome can affect the lungs, kidneys, and other organs.
If girls lose their nipples, then as adults, they will not be able to breastfeed babies on that side.
HandlingParents do not need to treat athelia unless the missing nipple is bothersome. If the child loses the entire breast, reconstructive surgery can be performed using tissue from the abdomen, buttocks, or back.
The nipple and areola can then be created during another procedure. To create a nipple, the surgeon shapes the folds of tissue into the correct shape.
Women may need to wait until their breasts are complete. Some may choose plastic surgery to create breast mounds.
Athelia and the conditions that cause it can have an impact on self-esteem. If your child is struggling to cope with the changes to their body, they may find it helpful to talk to a psychologist, therapist or other mental health professional. They may also find it helpful to join a support group for people who share the condition.
Sometimes, therapeutic tattoos are used to compensate for missing nipples.
PreventionSo far there has been no research that proves how to prevent athelia, because this condition is mostly caused by genetic conditions. However, some pregnant women are advised to take blood-boosting tablets, such as iron to prevent Poland syndrome, and other conditions. In addition, regular pregnancy checks must also be carried out to see if there are any genetic abnormalities that occur.
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Congenital Athelia
https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/conditions/athelia#
What Does It Mean to Have No Nipples (Athelia)?
https://www.healthline.com/health/no-nipples
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia