Microcephaly

Description

Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological disorder in which a baby's head is much smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly, often occurs when there is a problem with the development of the brain in utero or when the brain stops growing after birth.

Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Children with microcephaly often have developmental issues. Although there is no treatment for microcephaly, early intervention, speech, occupational, and other therapies can help to improve a child's development and improve the quality of life.

Symptoms

The main symptom of microcephaly is to have a head size that is much lower than that of other children of the same age and sex.

Head size is a measure of the distance around the top of the baby's head (circumference). The standardized use of the curves of growth, health care providers, to compare the measurement with other kids measurements in percentiles.

Some children only have a small head, with a measure that falls below a value set for the children of the same age and sex. In children with microcephaly, head of measures of size much smaller than the average for the child's age and sex.

A child with the most severe microcephaly can also have a slope in front.

When to see a doctor

It is likely that your health care provider to detect microcephaly in the birth of your baby or to a regular medical review. However, if you think that your baby's head is a little small for the baby's age and sex, or is not growing as it should, talk to your provider.

Causes

Microcephaly usually is the result of a problem with the development of the brain, which can occur in the uterus (congenital) or during infancy. Microcephaly may be genetic. Other causes may include:

  • Craniosynostosis (kray-nee-o-sin-os-TOE-sis). Principles of fusion of the joints (sutures) between the bony plates that make up the skull of a baby keeps the brain of growth. The treatment of craniosynostosis usually means that a baby needs surgery to separate the fused bones. This surgery relieves pressure on the brain, giving it enough space to grow and develop.
  • The genetic changes. Down syndrome and other conditions that can result in microcephaly.
  • The decrease of oxygen to the fetal brain (cerebral anoxia). Certain complications of pregnancy or childbirth can affect the supply of oxygen to the brain of a baby.
  • Infections passed to the fetus during pregnancy. These include toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, German measles (rubella), varicella (chicken pox) virus and Zika.
  • Exposure to drugs, alcohol or certain toxic chemicals in the womb. Any of these can affect fetal brain development during pregnancy.
  • Severe malnutrition. Not getting enough nutrients during pregnancy can harm fetal brain development.
  • Uncontrolled phenylketonuria (fen-ul-kee-toe-NU-ree-uh), also known as PKU, in the mother. phenylketonuria (PKU), hampers the ability of the mother to break down the amino acid phenylalanine and can affect the brain development of the fetus during pregnancy.

Complications

Some children with microcephaly to achieve the milestones of the development despite the fact that their bosses will always be small for their age and sex. But depending on the cause and severity of the microcephaly, complications can include:

  • Developmental delays, including speech and movement
  • Difficulties with coordination and balance
  • Dwarfism or short stature
  • Facial distortions
  • Hyperactivity
  • Intellectual delays
  • Seizures

Prevention

The learning of your child has microcephaly may raise questions about future pregnancies. Work with your health care provider to determine the cause of the microcephaly. If the cause is genetic, it is possible that you want to speak with a genetic counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies.

Microcephaly

Diagnosis

To determine if your child has microcephaly, your doctor will probably do a complete prenatal, birth and family history and do a physical exam. Your doctor will measure the head circumference of your child, compared with a growth chart, and re-measure, and chart the growth in future visits. Parents of head sizes can also be measured to determine if a small head of the family.

In some cases, especially if your child's development is delayed, your doctor may order a ct scan of the head or the magnetic resonance imaging and blood tests to help determine the underlying cause of the delay.

Treatment

Except for the surgery of craniosynostosis, there is usually no treatment that will make your child's head, or reverse the complications of microcephaly. The treatment focuses on ways of managing the condition of your child. Early childhood intervention programs, which include speech, physical and occupational therapy can help to maximize the skills of your child.

Your health care provider may recommend medication to some of the complications of microcephaly, such as seizures and hyperactivity.

Coping and support

When you find out that your child has microcephaly, you may feel many different emotions. You may not know what to expect, and it is possible that cares about the future of your child. The best remedy for the fear and the concern is with the information and support.

  • To find a team of trusted professionals.You will have to make important decisions about your child's education and treatment. Create a team of health care providers, teachers, therapists and other professionals that can help you to evaluate the resources in your area and explain the federal and state programs for children with developmental disabilities. Your child may need the attention of several medical specialties, including pediatrics and developmental pediatrics, infectious diseases, neurology, ophthalmology, genetics, and psychology.
  • Search for other families who are dealing with the same issues. Your community may have support groups for parents of children with developmental disabilities. You can also find online support groups.

To find a team of trusted professionals. You will have to make important decisions about your child's education and treatment. Create a team of health care providers, teachers, therapists and other professionals that can help you to evaluate the resources in your area and explain the federal and state programs for children with developmental disabilities.

Your child may need the attention of several medical specialties, including pediatrics and developmental pediatrics, infectious diseases, neurology, ophthalmology, genetics, and psychology.

Preparing for your appointment

If you just learned that your child has microcephaly, or you suspect that your child's head is too small, it is very likely start by seeing your doctor. However, in some cases, your pediatrician may refer you to a pediatric neurologist.

Here is some information to help you and your child prepare for the appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Before your child's appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the appointment
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent changes in your child's life
  • Medications, including vitamins, herbal and over-the-counter medications your child is taking, and its dose
  • Questions to ask your doctor to make the most of your time

You can ask them about the small head size, or developmental delays. If you are concerned about your child's head size, try to get the hat sizes or measure the circumference of the head of several first-degree relatives, such as parents and siblings, for comparison.

Have a friend or family member, if possible, to help you remember the information they give you.

To microcephaly, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is most likely to cause the symptoms of my son?
  • Other that the most likely cause, what are other possible causes of the symptoms of my son?
  • Does my child need additional tests? If so, do these tests require special preparation?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • There is a treatment that is going to return to my son on the head of a more typical size?
  • If I have children, what are the chances that you're going to have microcephaly?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

Symptoms and treatment of Microcephaly