overview
Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological disorder in which a child’s head is significantly smaller than that of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes discovered at birth, microcephaly is usually the result of abnormal growth in the brain in the womb or growth that should not grow as it should after birth.
Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Children with microcephaly often have developmental problems. There is usually no treatment for microcephaly, but early intervention with supportive therapies such as speech therapy and occupational therapy can help improve your child’s development and improve their quality of life. Microcephaly Treatment in warangal
symptoms
The main signs of microcephaly are:
A head size that is significantly smaller than that of other children of the same age and sex
Head size is measured as the distance around the top of the child’s head (circumference). Using standardized growth charts, the measurement is compared to the measurements of other children in percentiles.
Some children only have small heads that are as low as the first percentile. In children with microcephaly, the head size is well below average or even below the first percentile of your baby’s age and sex. Microcephaly Treatment in warangal
The reasons
Microcephaly is usually the result of abnormal brain development that can occur in the uterus (congenital) or in infancy. Microcephaly can be genetic. Other causes can be:
- Craniosynostosis. The premature fusion of the joints (seams) between the bone plates that make up a child’s skull prevents the brain from developing. Treatment for craniosynostosis (kray-nee-o-sin-os-TOE-sis) usually means that your baby will need surgery to separate the fused bones. When there are no underlying problems in the brain, this surgery allows the brain to grow and develop.
- Chromosomal abnormalities. Down syndrome and other conditions can lead to microcephaly.
- Decreased oxygen levels in the fetal brain (cerebral anoxia). Some complications during pregnancy or childbirth can affect the oxygen supply to the fetal brain.
- Infections are transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy. These include toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, German measles (rubella), chickenpox (chickenpox), and Zika virus.
- Exposure to drugs, alcohol, or certain toxic chemicals in the womb. All of this exposes your baby to brain abnormalities.
prevention
Learning that your child has microcephaly can raise questions about future pregnancies. Work with your doctor to determine the cause of the microcephaly. If the cause is genetic, you should speak to a genetic counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies. Microcephaly Treatment in warangal