Microcephaly (patient information)

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Microcephaly
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Microcephaly?
Prevention
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Microcephaly
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant-Editor-In-Chief: Kalsang Dolma, M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

Microcephaly is a condition in which a person's head is significantly smaller than normal for their age and sex, based on standardized charts. Head size is measured as the distance around the top of the head.

What causes Microcephaly?

Microcephaly most often occurs because the brain fails to grow at a normal rate. Skull growth is determined by brain growth. Brain growth takes place while in the womb and during infancy.

Conditions that affect brain growth can cause microcephaly. These include infections, genetic disorders, and severe malnutrition.

• Genetic conditions that cause microcephaly include:
  • Cornelia de Lange syndrome
  • Cri du chat syndrome
  • Down syndrome
  • Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
  • Seckel syndrome
  • Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome
  • Trisomy 18
  • Trisomy 21
• These additional conditions may indirectly cause microcephaly:
  • Uncontrolled phenylketonuria in the mother
  • Methylmercury poisoning
  • Congenital rubella
  • Congenital toxoplasmosis
  • Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Use of certain drugs during pregnancy, especially alcohol and phenytoin

Diagnosis

Microcephaly is usually discovered by the health care provider during routine examination. Head measurements are part of all well-baby examinations up to 18 months (longer in certain circumstances). They are painless and take only a few seconds while the measuring tape is placed around the infant's head.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Microcephaly is often diagnosed at birth or during routine well-baby examinations when the infant's height, weight, and head circumference is measured. If you suspect your infant's head size is too small or not growing normally, consult your health care provider

Where to find medical care for Microcephaly?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Microcephaly

Sources

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003272.htm