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Microcephaly


The term Microcephaly literally means "small head". The determination of
microcephaly is usually made when the head circumference is more than 2
standard deviations below normal for age, gender, race and gestation. Some
physicians prefer to diagnose at the 3 SD mark. There may also be a
diagnosis of "relative microcephaly", which means that in relation or
comparison to weight and length, the head size is below the expected norm.
Microcephaly may be congenital (present at birth) or it may develop in the
first few years of life. The disorder may stem from a wide variety of
conditions that cause abnormal growth of the brain, and is often a symptom
of syndromes associated with chromosomal abnormalities.


The number of microcephalic individuals in the general population ranges
from 0.1 to 2.5 percent, depending on whether the head circumference is 2
or 3 standard deviations below normal. Many of normal intelligence and
function are included in the larger percentage, which seems to indicate that
the 3 SD deviation is more closely related to the incidence of neurologic
impairment. There are approximately 1.6 per 1000 single birth deliveries
that include a diagnoses of microcephaly, but only 14 percent of all
microcephalic infants diagnosed by the first year of age are detected at
birth.
Definition:
Microcephaly describes a head size (measured as the distance around
the top of the head) significantly below normal for a person's age and sex,
based on standardized charts.


Alternative Names:
Microcephalia; Microcephalic; Microcephalus. Bird-Headed Encephaly.


Considerations:
Microcephaly most often occurs because of failure of the brain to grow
at a normal rate. Skull growth is determined by brain expansion, which takes
place during the normal growth of the brain during pregnancy and infancy.

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



Common Causes:
Primary Causes:

Downs Syndrome

Prenatal Malnutrition

Intermarriage





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