What kind of condition is referred to as congenital?

A congenital condition refers to a medical condition that is present at birth. This means that the individual is born with this condition, which can arise from genetic factors or environmental influences during fetal development. Congenital conditions can encompass a wide range of health issues, from structural abnormalities—such as heart defects or cleft palates—to conditions related to metabolism or immunity.

The other options reflect conditions that do not align with the definition of congenital. For instance, a condition that appears during childhood is not present at birth, but develops after some time; this would not be classified as congenital. Similarly, a condition acquired later in life does not meet the criteria for being congenital, as these arise due to various factors after birth, such as illness or lifestyle changes. Lastly, treating a condition only in adults does not speak to when the condition first manifests; it simply indicates the age of the population that receives treatment, which could include congenital conditions that were not diagnosed until later in life.