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Microcephaly - Causes of Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a medical condition in older, the smallness of the skull becomes
which the circumference of the head is more obvious, although the entire body
smaller than normal because the brain has also is often underweight and dwarfed.
not developed properly or has stopped Development of motor functions and speech
growing. Microcephaly can be present at may be delayed. Hyperactivity and mental
birth or it may develop in the first few retardation are common occurrences,
years of life. It is most often caused although the degree of each varies.
by genetic abnormalities that interfere Convulsions may also occur. Motor ability
with the growth of the cerebral cortex varies, ranging from clumsiness in some
during the early months of fetal to spastic quadriplegia in others.
development. It is associated with Causes of Microcephaly
Down's syndrome, chromosomal syndromes, Microcephaly can occur alone or in
and neurometabolic syndromes. Babies may association with other health problems,
also be born with microcephaly if, during and may occur from inheritance of an
pregnancy, their mother abused drugs or autosomal recessive, or rarely, an
alcohol, became infected with a autosomal dominant gene. Acquired
cytomegalovirus, rubella (German microcephaly may occur after birth due to
measles), or vermicelli (chicken pox) various brain injuries such as lack of
virus, was exposed to certain toxic oxygen or infection.
chemicals, or had untreated Microcephaly may be inherited but the
phenylketonuria (PKU). Babies born with gene is considered to be extremely rare.
microcephaly will have a smaller than In the general population, microcephaly
normal head that will fail to grow as due to genetic factors occurs in 1 in
they progress through infancy. 30,000 to 50,000 live births, and in 1
In many cases, microcephaly may not be per 10,000 births due to other causes. In
evident by ultrasound until the third some populations, frequency may be as
trimester, and, therefore, may not be high as 1 in 2,000 births.
seen on ultrasounds performed earlier in Microcephaly can also be caused if the
pregnancy. The diagnosis of microcephaly mother has an infection while pregnant or
may be made at birth or later in infancy. if she is exposed to harmful substances
The baby's head circumference is much during early pregnancy, such as x-rays (a
smaller than normal. During the physical type of energy) or chemicals. Another
examination, the physician obtains a cause of microcephaly is if the bones of
complete prenatal and birth history of the skull come together too early. For
the child. In older babies and children, genetic (inherited) causes of
the physician may also ask if there is a microcephaly, see the next section.
family history of microcephaly or other Microcephaly is either caused by exposure
medical problems. The physician will also to harmful substances during the fetal
ask about developmental milestones since development, or it may be associated with
microcephaly can be associated with other genetic problems or syndromes that may
problems, such as mental retardation. have a tendency to run in families.
Infants with microcephaly are born with Microcephaly most often occurs because of
either a normal or reduced head size. failure of the brain to grow at a normal
Subsequently the head fails to grow while rate. Skull growth is determined by brain
the face continues to develop at a normal expansion, which takes place during the
rate, producing a child with a small head normal growth of the brain during
and a receding forehead, and a loose, pregnancy and infancy.
often wrinkled scalp. As the child grows




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