MICROCEPHALY IS a medical condition, which is characterized by a smaller head (less then 2 standard deviations) than normal, as the brain does not develop properly or has stopped growing. The babies with this problem may not cry, immediately after birth. The baby may have Microcephaly from birth or may develop it in the first few years, Dr. Ravindra Jain, a Pediatrician, told this Citizen Journalist .
The American Academy of Neurology, developed in full collaboration with the Child Neurology Society, says that ninety seven percent of children suffering from Microcephaly should be screened for neurological and cognitive problems, and forty percent of children have epilepsy and twenty percent of children have cerebral palsy, reported the website news-medical.
Genetic disorder is one of the main causes of Microcephaly, but there are some other causes of microcephaly such as:
Craniosynostosis: In this condition the sutures between the bony plates causes premature fusing, which halts the growth of infant's brain.
Chromosomal abnormalities: Down's syndrome is a type of chromosomal abnormalities, which can cause Microcephaly.
Fetal infections during pregnancy: If the fetus is infected in the womb with varicella or rubella, then it can lead to Microcephaly.
Decreased supply of oxygen to the fetal brain during pregnancy or delivery can lead to Microcephaly.
Malnutrition: If the mother does not get adequate nutrition during pregnancy, this may affect the baby's development.
Uncontrolled phenylketonuria (PKU): It is a kind of birth defect that constraints the body's ability to breakdown the amino acids phenylalanine.
There is no treatment for Microcephaly, except for surgery of craniosynostosis, and there is no treatment. The treatment mainly aims on the ways to manage your child's mental condition and a pediatric neurologist will help in the treatment, reported MayoClinic.
Foundation for Children with Microcephaly (FCM) is a non-profit organization, which works for children with Microcephaly and other related neurological disorders to progress in their life. The organization also provides support to the families, who have children suffering with this disorder and participates in the research for the cure of Microcephaly.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is doing research on Microcephaly, and is supporting the major medical institutions across the world to do additional research on this disorder.
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