Microcephaly is a rare nervous system disorder that causes a baby's head to be small and not fully developed. The child's brain stops growing as it should. This can happen while the baby is still in the mother's womb or within the first few years of birth.
How Does a Baby Get Microcephaly?
Your doctor may not be able to tell you why this happened to your baby. In most cases, the exact cause is unknown.
It can be brought on by:
A problem with your genes (congenital microcephaly)
Something in your environment (acquired microcephaly)
Congenital microcephaly is passed down through families. It's caused by defects in genes linked to early brain development. Microcephaly is often seen in children with Down syndrome and genetic disorders.
Acquired microcephaly means the child's brain came into contact with something that harmed its growth and development. Some things that may do this while a baby is in the womb are:
Viral infections, including rubella (German measles), chickenpox, and possibly Zika, which is spread by mosquitos,
Parasite infections, such as toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus,
Toxic chemicals such as lead,
Not getting enough food or nutrients (malnutrition),
Alcohol,
Drugs,
Acquired microcephaly can also be caused by other things, including:
Hemorrhage or stroke in the newborn,
Injury to the brain after birth,
Spine or brain defects,
What Symptoms Will a Child Have?
Children with a mild case may have a small head but no other problems. Your child's head will grow as they get older. But it will remain smaller than what's considered normal.
Some children have normal intelligence. Others have problems learning, but they usually don't get worse as your child gets older.
Other symptoms may include:
Balance and coordination problems,
Developmental delays (delayed sitting, standing, walking),
Trouble swallowing and problems with feeding,
Hearing loss,
Hyperactivity (trouble paying attention or sitting still),
Seizures,
Short height,
Speech problems,
Vision problems,
How Is Microcephaly Treated?
There's no cure for microcephaly, but there are treatments to help with development, behavior, and seizures.
If your child has mild microcephaly, they'll need regular doctor checkups to monitor how they grow and develop.
Children who have more severe cases need lifelong treatment to control symptoms. Some, like seizures, can be life-threatening. Your doctor will discuss treatments to keep your child safe and improve their quality of life.
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