Published: 18 Jun 2025

ICD9: 759.9      ICD10: Q89.9      ICD11: XB8M

The term "congenital" refers to a condition, disease, or characteristic that is present from birth.
It doesn't necessarily mean the condition is inherited. It simply means it existed at the time the baby was born.

Here's a breakdown:

Present at Birth: The key aspect of "congenital" is that the condition is observed or determined to be present during or immediately after birth.
Not Necessarily Genetic: While some congenital conditions are caused by genetic factors (inherited from parents), others can arise due to:
Environmental factors during pregnancy (e.g., exposure to certain chemicals or infections)
Problems during development in the womb
Unknown causes
Range of Severity: Congenital conditions can range from mild and easily correctable to severe and life-threatening.
Examples: Some examples of congenital conditions include:
Congenital heart defects (structural abnormalities of the heart)
Cleft lip or palate
Down syndrome (often, but not always, considered a congenital condition as the genetic abnormality exists from conception, but may not be diagnosed until birth)
Spina bifida
Congenital deafness
Congenital cataracts

In Summary: "Congenital" is an adjective describing something existing at birth. It indicates *when* the condition is present, but not *how* it originated (genetic, environmental, etc.).