CDH is the acronym for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. The word congenital implies ‘born with’, diaphragmatic implies ‘affecting diaphragm’ and hernia means ‘protrusion’ or ‘bulge’. The CDH condition occurs in an estimated 1 out of every 2500 births accounting of about 8 percent of all main congenital conditions. Solid evidence of CDH occurring mostly in one specific sex does not exist. However, there are studies that suggest male babies are affect more frequently than female babies at a ratio of 3:2. Only 2% of families that have children with this condition have been seen to pass this condition on. Currently, there are no known risk factors or causes of this condition though studies suggest probable multifactorial. This implies that the condition may be caused by several factors including genetic and environmental factors.

How the CDH Condition Occurs

In a fetus, diaphragm development happens between the 7th and 10th week of pregnancy. The CDH condition occurs if the formation of the diaphragm fails to occur in the right manner or when it does not happen in the fetus at all. This creates a passage for contents in the abdomen to herniate through to the chest cavity. This stops the lungs of the unborn baby from developing normally. Abdominal contents are also referred to as viscera. The extent of damage caused to the unborn baby’s internal organs such as the lungs and heart is determined by the stage and how much viscera has herniated as well as the size of the hole located in the diaphragm. There are various kinds of CDH condition. The most prevalent kind is the Bochdalek which is detected in more than 90% of all diaphragmatic hernias that occur. This condition occurs on the left side. The Morgagni hernia is uncommon and occurs behind the breastbone, a bit on the right hand side. The Diaphragmatic eventration is a hernia that happens in a diaphragm that is intact though located in an abnormally higher chest position.