This condition may be present when your baby is born. 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Microcephaly's causes, symptoms and management are discussed. Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. Microcephaly is a condition in which a child's head is abnormally small. If measurement within the first 24 hours of life is not done, the head circumference should be measured as soon as possible after birth. During this time, there were also nearly 4 . Microcephaly can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. What are the treatment options for microcephaly? There's no cure for microcephaly, but early diagnosis, supportive treatment, and therapies can aid the child's development and improve their quality of life. There is no cure for microcephaly, and it lasts the childs entire life. It may also develop in the first 2 years of their life. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Because it is difficult to predict at birth what problems a baby will have from microcephaly, babies with microcephaly often need close follow-up through regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor their growth and development. Those who reside in or visit locations where the Zika virus is prevalent can avoid microcephaly by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites. We take your privacy seriously. Chances are your health care provider will detect microcephaly at your baby's birth or at a regular well-baby checkup. There is a total of 5 errors on this form, details are below. Support for this browser is being discontinued for this site. During pregnancy, microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed with an ultrasound test (which creates pictures of the body). Once a baby is diagnosed with microcephaly, a multidisciplinary health team should begin a process of follow-up and monitoring of the child. Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Instead, it's a generic term used to describe any case in which someone's head is a certain size smaller than the average. The baby is either born with a smaller head (congenital), or the condition develops as the baby gets older (acquired). This website provides comprehensive information to mothers, healthcare professionals, and the general public about exposures during pregnancy. Conditions that affect brain growth can cause smaller than normal head size. But in reality . Microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed before birth by prenatal ultrasound. The images are in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. The following are other potential causes of microcephaly: Infected mosquitos transmit Zika virus to humans. Early ultrasounds may miss microcephaly in Zika-infected pregnant women. This is usually defined as a head circumference below the 3rd percentile. Babies can be born with microcephaly, or it can develop in the first few years of life. Both viruses cause a fever, a rash and joint pain. . Diagnosis. Seizure symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions, and muscle rigidity. Using standardized growth charts, health care providers compare the measurement with other children's measurements in percentiles. Prune belly syndrome is a rare congenital condition that affects the abdominal muscles, the abdomen's appearance, and other systems in the body. Anencephaly is a NTD that results from a failure of the anterior (rostral) portion of the embryonic neural tube (anterior neuropore) to close properly. Theyll also keep records of your childs growth and development. Microcephaly occurs most often because the brain fails to grow at a normal rate. What complications are associated with microcephaly? A message has been sent to your recipient's email address with a link to the content webpage. See additional information. The Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected. Sometimes it comes with other neurodevelopmental syndromes likeDown syndrome orCri du Chat syndrome. We avoid using tertiary references. The child born with microcephaly has a head smaller than expected in comparison to other newborns of the same gender and age. Anencephaly is a birth defect in which the brain and bones of the skull don't form completely while the baby is in the womb. Microcephaly can be caused by genetic changes. Work with your health care provider to determine the cause of the microcephaly. Its not always possible to prevent microcephaly, especially when the cause is genetic. Microcephaly is a permanent condition that currently has no cure; however, treatment aims to minimize symptoms and improve the affected childs abilities. Some of these causes include: Acquired microcephaly might occur after birth because of various brain injuries caused by a lack of oxygen or infection. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As a matter of courtesy we request that the content provider (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities) be credited and notified in any public or private usage of this image. Call 1800 882 436. During pregnancy, a babys head grows because the babys brain grows. Microcephaly is a lifelong condition. Although there's no treatment for microcephaly, early intervention with speech, occupational and other supportive therapies may help enhance a child's development and improve quality of life. We also help parents go alcohol- and smoke-free. Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website. Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus first identified in Uganda in 1947 in a Rhesus macaque monkey followed by evidence of infection and disease in humans in other African countries in the 1950s. Doctors then compare the . Microcephaly is sometimes present at birth, but it may develop later as the child's brain fails to grow as it should in infancy. Often diagnosis is made at birth or at a later stage. Facts about microcephaly. Microcephaly is a rare condition that happens when your brain grows abnormally. Children with microcephaly have smaller heads and brains than other children of the same age. Children learn the most from the people who care for them and with whom they spend most of their time, soeveryday play and communication with you can help your child a lot. Common characteristics include: Babies with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome have: Trisomy 18 is also known as Edwards syndrome. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Children with issues concerning academic, speech or motor skills may benefit from: Physical issues, such as seizures and facial abnormalities, can occur in some children with severe microcephaly. Microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed before birth by prenatal ultrasound. "So chikungunya can easily be mistaken for Zika," Dye says. Your childs doctor will continue to measure your childs head at routine well-baby exams during the first 2 years of life. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Health professionals might also recommend genetic testing to diagnose microcephaly. In Brazil, the ZIKV epidemic could predict profound increase in the number of microcephaly cases, almost 5-10 months later. Intellectual disabilities (trouble with learning). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microcephaly/basics/definition/con-20034823, mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/healthy-baby/art-20044767, ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Microcephaly-Information-Page, rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/8562/seckel-syndrome/resources/1, Overview of Diastrophic Dysplasia, a Genetic Condition Affecting the Cartilage, What to Know If Your Child Is Diagnosed with Arthrogryposis, What You Need to Know About Prune Belly Syndrome, Can You Get Pregnant from Pre-Cum? Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is funded by the Australian Government and operated by Healthdirect Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is much smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. During Pregnancy. Accessed March 13, 2022. clinical governance framework. Mayo Clinic; 2022. It can cause: Babies with Trisomy 18 usually dont survive past the 1st month of life. Prevention. You may have questions about how microcephaly will impact your pregnancy, and what your options are. Early intervention should also include helping you learn how to spend time with your child in ways that support their development. However, treatment is available for your childs condition. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. For some, medication may be appropriate as complimentary treatment. would actually be diagnosed as microcephalic after the 1 SD shift caused by the infection. Make sure your child sees their healthcare provider for a diagnosis. You can read more about percentiles here, and view the WHO growth charts here. A child with more-severe microcephaly may also have a sloping forehead. But each has unique features: acute dengue infection is complicated by hemorrhage, vascular leak, and shock syndrome in small percentage of cases; chikungunya infections can cause persistent disabling joint symptoms, especially in older in- dividuals; Zika has been associated with microcephaly in infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy, as well as Guillain-Barre and other neurologic . Zika can be misdiagnosed as another mosquito-borne virus, called chikungunya. It can also form in water, leading to contaminated fish. Sometimes health professionals can diagnose microcephaly while a baby is still in the womb. Terms of Use. It also gives you funding for things like early intervention therapies or one-off items like wheelchairs. However, their head circumference will always be small for their age and sex. Multiple births occur when a woman bears twins, triplets, or even more babies during pregnancy. Microcephaly is a condition in which your babys head is smaller than those of other children of the same age and sex. Because the babys brain is small and underdeveloped, babies with severe microcephaly can have more of these problems, or have more difficulty with them, than babies with milder microcephaly. WHO: Microcephaly and Zika virus infection - Questions and answers (Q&A) . To determine if your child has microcephaly, your provider likely will take a thorough prenatal, birth and family history and do a physical exam. Both are key to a diagnosis of a rare condition called microcephaly. When you give birth to your baby, the doctor will measure their head circumference. Microcephaly can be diagnosed either postnatally or prenatally. Tell the doctor about them at the next appointment. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Microcephaly was confirmed by a neonatologist at birth and positive predictive values (PPVs) and misdiagnosis were assessed. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby's head is smaller than expected, when compared with babies of the same age and sex. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter Digital Edition. Privacy Policy and If youre pregnant, you should take precautions, including: If youre pregnant and have phenylketonuria (PKU), its important to follow a low-phenylalanine diet. Some children with microcephaly are both with normal intelligence and have normal developmental milestones, but their heads will always be smaller than normal children for their age and sex. Birth defects have many causes and currently, are the leading cause of death for infants in the first year of life. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Developmental delays, or problems learning how to speak, stand and walk. The word lissencephaly literally means "smooth brain." Children with lissencephaly usually have head sizes in the expected range at birth. Methods: Retrospective cohort study with more than 30,000 exams in more than 11,000 women. Microcephaly usually is the result of a problem with brain development, which can occur in the womb (congenital) or during infancy. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. The cause of microcephaly may not be known. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly often occurs when there is a problem with brain development in the womb or when the brain stops growing after birth. If your child has delayed motor function, occupational therapy may benefit them. If your child develops certain complications, such as seizures or hyperactivity, the doctor may also prescribe medication to treat them. Most of the time, abnormal brain development causes this condition. Microcephaly may be diagnosed on prenatal US when assessment of head circumference reveals a measurement below the third centile for the fetal gestational age [].Standardized curves of fetal biometry are available, such as those of the Collge Franais d'Echographie Foetale []. Find out how Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, Zika's effects on pregnancy, as well as how to protect yourself from the Zika virus. The precise causes of microcephaly are unknown. Accessed March 13, 2022. Other things can cause microcephaly during pregnancy or birth. the above link to submit your information! While the teratogenicity of alcohol is well-documented, children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and neurobehavioral differences including those who qualify for a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) remain unidentified or misdiagnosed (Chasnoff et al., 2015).The subgroup of children with PAE who have fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is readily identifiable by . However, if you think your baby's head is small for the baby's age and sex or isn't growing as it should, talk to your provider. Sometimes the baby may develop microcephaly within the first two years of life; this is referred to as acquired microcephaly. Other causes of microcephaly, including severe microcephaly, can include the following exposures during pregnancy: Some babies with microcephaly have been reported among mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. Well-baby exam: What to expect during routine check-ups. Microcephaly can occur before birth (congenital) or after birth (acquired). If you catch Zika virus while pregnant you might pass the infection on to your unborn baby. During pregnancy, microcephaly may be detected by ultrasound from about 20 weeks onwards (RCOG 2016a) . Your babys head may be smaller than usual for different reasons. It is only reported in 1 in 10,000 babies in Australia. Microcephaly can cause developmental delays and other neurological symptoms. Exposure of the mother to rubella or German measles during pregnancy, or using drugs or alcohol during pregnancy. How is chickenpox related to shingles? Sometimes microcephaly can be diagnosed while the baby is still in utero, through ultrasound, during the end of the second trimester or beginning of the third.Once the baby is born, physical examinations might yield a head measurement that is smaller than expected, or developmental delays might arise that warrant further examination in older children. Microcephaly most often occurs because the brain does not grow at a normal rate. If the cause is genetic, you may want to talk to a genetics counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies. Arthrogryposis is a congenital condition present at birth characterized by a stiffening of the joints. These questions can be answered by: You can also ask about how this might affect your child in the future. When is microcephaly usually diagnosed? difficulties with coordination and balance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women who are pregnant shouldnt travel to areas where there have been Zika virus outbreaks or areas that have a risk of Zika outbreaks. However, early diagnosis and treatment can improve your childs outlook. Microcephaly can range from mild to severe, therefore the treatment options range as well. Complications include bacterial infection of the open sores, scarring, encephalitis, nerve palsies, and Reye's syndrome.