What Does It Mean if a Baby's Head Is Too Small

Microcephaly facts*

*Microcephaly facts medical writer: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

• Microcephaly is a status where the caput (circumference) is smaller than normal.
• Microcephaly may exist caused by genetic abnormalities or by drugs, alcohol, sure viruses, and toxins that are exposed to the fetus during pregnancy and damage the developing brain tissue. Unfortunately, a 2015-2016 outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil has been associated with a large number of infants born with microcephaly. Epidemiological and some viral isolations suggest that meaning women who go Zika virus accept a loftier chance of fetal infection that may pb to microcephaly, although a definitive link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly is not even so proven.
• Signs and symptoms of microcephaly may include a smaller than normal head circumference that usually remains smaller than normal as the child grows, dwarfism or curt stature, delayed motor and voice communication functions, mental retardation, seizures, facial distortions, hyperactivity, balance and coordination issues, and other encephalon-related or neurological problems; although some with the disorder may develop normal intelligence.
• There is no treatment to change the head size; programs are available to help these individuals achieve their maximum potential and genetic counseling may help explain the take chances for microcephaly in future pregnancies. Women who are interested in becoming pregnant are beingness brash by the CDC and other agencies to avoid traveling to areas where Zika virus is found to reduce the chance of becoming infected while pregnant.
• Research on microcephaly is ongoing; for example, researchers institute that amino acrid therapy may reduce seizure activity in some patients. There is no vaccine available for Zika virus; researchers predict a vaccine volition take three to 5 years to develop.

What is microcephaly?

Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the circumference of the head is smaller than normal considering the brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing. Microcephaly can be present at nativity or it may develop in the outset few years of life.

Zika Virus and Pregnancy

Zika Blamed for Increase in Cases of Microcephaly

Zika virus infections beginning arose in Brazil in May 2015. Significant women, specially those in the first and early second trimester, in areas where the disease is prevalent should attempt to avoid any mosquito bites. Officials in Brazil are concerned since almost 4,000 babies (very unusually high number equally compared to similar fourth dimension periods in which merely about 150 babies were diagnosed with microcephaly) have been born with microcephaly since May 2015. In addition, Dr. R. Coeli, a pediatrician in Brazil, has reported Zika viruses isolated from the amniotic fluid of two women and one infant's brain and center tissue -- results she concludes that tie the Zika virus to microcephaly development. Officials have taken the unusual footstep to recommend women avoid pregnancy until the cause of the increase in microcephaly is definitively determined.

What causes microcephaly?

Information technology is well-nigh often caused past genetic abnormalities that interfere with the growth of the cerebral cortex during the early months of fetal development. It is associated with Downwards's syndrome, chromosomal syndromes, and neurometabolic syndromes. Babies may also be born with microcephaly if, during pregnancy, their mother abused drugs or booze, became infected with a cytomegalovirus, rubella (German measles), or varicella (chicken pox) virus, was exposed to certain toxic chemicals, or had untreated phenylketonuria (PKU).

Babies born with microcephaly will accept a smaller than normal head that will neglect to grow as they progress through infancy.

What are microcephaly symptoms and signs?

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Depending on the severity of the accompanying syndrome, children with microcephaly may have

• impaired cerebral development,
• delayed motor functions and speech,
• facial distortions,
• dwarfism or short stature,
• hyperactivity,
• seizures,
• difficulties with coordination and residuum, and
• other brain or neurological abnormalities.

Some children with microcephaly will accept normal intelligence and a caput that will grow bigger, merely they will track beneath the normal growth curves for caput circumference.

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Is there any treatment for microcephaly?

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At that place is no treatment for microcephaly that can return a child'south head to a normal size or shape. Treatment focuses on means to decrease the impact of the associated deformities and neurological disabilities. Children with microcephaly and developmental delays are usually evaluated by a pediatric neurologist and followed by a medical direction squad. Early childhood intervention programs that involve physical, speech, and occupational therapists help to maximize abilities and minimize dysfunction. Medications are often used to control seizures, hyperactivity, and neuromuscular symptoms. Genetic counseling may assist families sympathise the risk for microcephaly in subsequent pregnancies.

What is the prognosis for microcephaly?

Some children will only have mild disability. Others, especially if they are otherwise growing and developing usually, volition take normal intelligence and keep to develop and meet regular age-appropriate milestones.

What research is being done on microcephaly?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research relating to microcephaly in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and supports additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the land. A modest group of researchers studying a rare neurometabolic syndrome (three-PGDH), which causes microcephaly, have successfully used amino acid replacement therapy to reduce and prevent seizures.

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References

SOURCE:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Wellness.

What Does It Mean if a Baby's Head Is Too Small

Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/microcephaly/article.htm