Detailed Information on Microcephaly

 Microcephaly is a condition that is present at birth in which the baby's head is much smaller than normal for an infant of that age and gender. Microcephaly can be present at birth or it may develop in the first few years of life. Microcephaly most frequently occurs because of failure of the brain to grow at a normal rate. Infants with microcephaly are born with either a normal or reduced head size. Subsequently the head fails to grow while the face continues to develop at a normal rate, producing a child with a little head and a receding forehead, and a loose, frequently wrinkled scalp.

As the child grows older, the efficiency of the skull becomes more obvious, although the entire body also is frequently underweight and dwarfed. Development of motor functions and speech may be delayed. Skull growth is determined by brain expansion, which takes place during the normal growth of the brain during pregnancy and infancy. It is most often caused by genetic abnormalities that interfere with the growth of the cerebral cortex during the early months of fetal development. It is related with Down’s syndrome, chromosomal syndromes, and neurometabolic syndromes.

Severely impaired intellectual development is common, but disturbances in motor functions may not appear until later in life. In the general population, microcephaly due to genetic factors occurs in 1 in 30,000 to 50,000 live births, and in 1 per 10,000 births due to other causes. In some populations, frequency may be as high as 1 in 2,000 births. The symptoms of microcephaly may include appearance of the baby's head is very small, high-pitched cry, poor feeding, seizures, increased movement of the arms and legs and developmental delays. There is no specific treatment for microcephaly.

Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Treatment focuses on ways to decrease the impact of the related deformities and neurological disabilities. Early childhood intervention programs that involve physical, speech, and occupational therapists assist to maximize abilities and minimize dysfunction. Medications are often used to manage seizures, hyperactivity, and neuromuscular symptoms. Genetic counseling may be recommended by the physician to provide information on the recurrence risks for the disorder and any available testing. Genetic counseling may help families understand the risk for microcephaly in subsequent pregnancies.