A radiological presentation of neonatal and infantile syndromes

The syndromes I have described are unfortunately not rare in Saudi and so the role of genetic counselling is an important, if difficult, one. Consanguinous marriages are a key cause of these diseases, but not one easily avoided. Marriage rituals in this part of the world are vastly different from those in the west. Many Saudis regard consanguinous unions, for example between cousins, as a further strengthening of family bonds. The role of genetics is not fully appreciated by parents and genetic disease is often attributed to other, extraneous causes: God's will; an illness suffered by the mother during pregnancy; or to the 'evil eye.' Even when genetic counsellors actively discourage parents who are at risk from having future children, this advice goes unheeded. Parents prefer to rely on: 'Insh'allah' or God's will' to safeguard them. Abortion is strictly prohibited by religious law and any affected offspring are cared for by a dedicated and loving family under the guidance of the Holy Qu'ran. They are rarely institutionalized.