The birth of a child with a congenital anomaly. Part II. The prediagnostic phase after discharge from the maternity home.

Thirty babies discharged from the maternity home undiagnosed were subsequently found to be suffering from cystic fibrosis (12 cases), Hirschsprung's disease (13) or an anorectal malformation (5). The efforts of parents in this respect and the factors influencing the establishment of a diagnosis were investigated. Maximum periods of 3,9 years, 3,75 years and 5 years respectively were required to confirm a diagnosis in patients with the above three conditions. Although the severity of symptoms is an important factor in speed of diagnosis, other mediating variables had influenced the outcome in our sample; patients referred to a children's hospital were diagnosed sooner. For this reason patients from the lowest social class were diagnosed earlier than those from the higher socio-economic groups. The problems experienced by parents during this phase are reviewed.