Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a congenital condition in which the baby's head is significantly smaller than normal. This is due to underdevelopment of the brain.

With microcephaly, the brain volume is smaller than that of 97% of people of the same age and gender. Typically, microcephaly is diagnosed at birth or in early childhood. In such children, the head looks disproportionately small compared to the face.

The causes of microcephaly can be varied: genetic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, intrauterine infections, exposure to alcohol or drugs during pregnancy.

Children with microcephaly often have delayed mental and physical development. They may have problems with speech and movement disorders.

Treatment of microcephaly consists of minimizing manifestations and complications. Rehabilitation, speech therapy and physiotherapy are important. The prognosis depends on the degree of brain damage.

In contrast to microcephaly, there is macrocephaly - an increase in the size of the head and brain.

Microcephaly is a relatively rare congenital disorder characterized by a decrease in the size of the skull compared to a healthy person. The head may be flattened and deformed with a predominant relief of wrinkles along the periphery of the brain (zygomatic head, periocular region and forehead). The main part of the brain and its structure can be preserved. This can lead to varying degrees of mental retardation. However, such cases are rarely observed, since microcephaly is usually combined with other developmental anomalies (Down syndrome, features of hypothyroidism, heart defects, metabolic defects, neural tube defects).

Microcephaly is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a very small head size. This condition can be associated with a number of genetic disorders, and therefore most cases of microcephaly are hereditary. However, there are some rare cases where microcephaly is caused by congenital factors such as toxic exposure during pregnancy, infections or genetic defects.