Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. If your child has microcephaly, they can access different services and treatments. Microcephaly may be diagnosed during pregnancy with ultrasound. This content does not have an English version. These therapies will help build and strengthen your childs natural abilities. Microcephaly implies a small brain, or micrencephaly, which can result from a variety of conditions. During pregnancy, microcephaly may be detected by ultrasound from about 20 weeks onwards (RCOG 2016a) . Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?Hillcrest Cancer Center check-in changesCole Eye entrance closingVisitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information, Notice of Intelligent Business Solutions data eventLearn more. We provide support before, during and after pregnancy. Often diagnosis is made at birth or at a later stage. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby's head is smaller than expected, when compared with babies of the same age and sex. How do I get more information about microcephaly? Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week. However, their head circumference will always be small for their age and sex. These services, known as early intervention, can include speech, occupational, and physical therapies. 1996-2021 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. The main feature of microcephaly is a head size that is much smaller than normal for the child's age and gender. MedTerms medical dictionary is the medical terminology for MedicineNet.com. However, this condition isnt very common due to the use of the rubella vaccine. Infants diagnosed with mild Microcephaly do not experience any problems other than a small head size which requires routine check-ups to monitor growth and development. Anencephaly is a NTD that results from a failure of the anterior (rostral) portion of the embryonic neural tube (anterior neuropore) to close properly. If your child has delayed motor function, occupational therapy may benefit them. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Microcephaly-Information-Page), (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html), (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/microcephaly), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. Your childs doctor will continue to measure your childs head at routine well-baby exams during the first 2 years of life. During pregnancy, microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed with an ultrasound test (which creates pictures of the body). Developmental delays, or problems learning how to speak, stand and walk. Other signs and symptoms can vary widely from child to child. This can cause health problems for your baby, including microcephaly. professional health care. Microcephaly comes from "micro," meaning small, and "cephaly," meaning head. points, so it is easy to understand why males can be frequently misdiagnosed as female and why, even if we can improve our sensitivity, it is going to be difficult to . In order to make the diagnosis while the fetus is still in the uterus, the ultrasound should be done late in the second trimester or in the third trimester. Thank you Sugarland for helping fulfill Luke's Wish! 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. Although head circumference measurements may be influenced by molding and other factors related to delivery, the measurements should be taken on the first day of life because commonly-used birth head circumference reference charts by age and sex are based on measurements taken before 24 hours of age. Developmental services early in life will often help babies with microcephaly to improve and maximize their physical and intellectual abilities. What are the signs and symptoms of microcephaly? Because microcephaly can range from mild to severe, treatment options can range as well. To see microcephaly during pregnancy, the ultrasound test should be done late in the 2nd trimester (at 28 weeks) or early in the third trimester. The remainder of the body is frequently underweight and smaller than average. Complications include bacterial infection of the open sores, scarring, encephalitis, nerve palsies, and Reye's syndrome. If your babys brain isnt growing properly, they may have a condition known as microcephaly. Microcephaly is a genetic condition where the circumference of the head is smaller than normal due to underdeveloped brain. Safier RA, et al., eds. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. When the baby is born, a measurement of head size occipital frontal circumference (OFC) can diagnose microcephaly. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Your doctor can measure your babys growth in several ways. Microcephaly is aneurodevelopmental disorder that is, a problem with the way the brain or nervous system grows and develops. Treating the childs ongoing health problems. How is chickenpox related to shingles? Treatment includes management of the childs condition with speech therapy and physical and occupational therapy to strengthen their abilities and improve their quality of life. Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. 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. This means the babys head is extremely small compared to babies of the same age and sex. Microcephaly is not a specific disease. Learn how to manage and move through these challenges during pregnancy. Microcephaly may be diagnosed before birth by prenatal ultrasound, a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound . Terms of Use. Your baby may be born prematurely with many physical problems, including: This parasite is found in some cat feces and uncooked meat. Abnormal brain development can occur while your child is still in the womb or during infancy. Is it an emergency? Microcephaly can occur before birth (congenital) or after birth (acquired). Microcephaly can sometimes be diagnosed before birth by prenatal ultrasound. Microcephaly is a lifelong condition with no known cure or standard treatment. Babies with microcephaly can have a range of other problems, depending on how severe their microcephaly is. Microcephaly is a birth defect where a babys head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. CDC scientists announced that enough evidence has accumulated to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Microcephaly is a condition in which a babys head is smaller than average for an infants size and age. Often diagnosis is made at birth or at a later stage. For information about the effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, visit CDCs Zika and Pregnancy web page. Severe microcephaly also can be life-threatening. Children born with microcephaly often have developmental problems. Ultrasounds have the best diagnosis possibility if they are made at the end of the second trimester, around 28 weeks, or in the third trimester of pregnancy. Accessed March 13, 2022. This can happen while the baby is still . Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function, and to assess blood flow through . In some cases, microcephaly may be prevented by avoiding and managing these causes. 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? Ultrasounds let . When is microcephaly usually diagnosed? Join FCM's Parent-to-Parent Support Group on Facebook! Congenital microcephaly is also called primary microcephaly where the braindoes not grow to the normal size while the fetus is in the womb. Accessed March 13, 2022. Accuracy in Detecting Birth Defects. These babies will need routine check-ups to monitor their growth and development. Severe microcephaly can happen if your baby's brain does not grow at all. The views of these organizations are their own and do not reflect the official position of CDC. These include: Some people use methylmercury to preserve the seed grain that they feed animals. The provider then compares this measurement to population standards by sex and age. In total, nearly 700,000 cases of Zika were reported to the Pan American Health Organization between 2015 and 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A child with more-severe microcephaly may also have a sloping forehead. Microcephaly can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born. If the cause is genetic, you may want to talk to a genetics counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies. Before this stage, a smaller than expected head may not be obvious. Conditions such as Down syndrome can be tested for in antenatal visits. Can microcephaly be diagnosed before birth? 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. 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. The most important factor is that the head circumference is carefully measured and documented. Children with more severe complications may experience: Dwarfism and short stature are not complications of microcephaly. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google It may also develop in the first 2 years of their life. Head size is a measure of the distance around the top of the child's head (circumference). The baby is either born with a smaller head, or the condition develops as the baby gets older. The CDC advises women who are considering getting pregnant to follow the same recommendations or at least speak to their doctor before traveling to these areas. Learning disabilities can cause an individual to have trouble learning and using skills such as reading, listening, writing, reading, speaking, reasoning, and performing mathematics. Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses? Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Microcephaly usually is the result of a problem with brain development, which can occur in the womb (congenital) or during infancy. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. It is mostly caused by the brain failing to expand at a normal rate. Dial 000 Microcephaly most often occurs because the brain does not grow at a normal rate. Common characteristics of this rare syndrome include: Babies with Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome are shorter than normal. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Theyll place a measuring tape around your babys head and record its size. The NDIS helps you get services and support in your community. This causes the child to develop a large face, a receding forehead and a loose, often wrinkled scalp. Most of the time, abnormal brain development causes this condition. The exact causes of microcephaly are not known. The symptoms of microcephaly can be like other health conditions. 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. That said, it's most often diagnosed after birth, when doctors measure head size during a physical examination and compare that measurement to population . Management of microcephaly involves: The prognosis for a child who has microcephaly depends on the other medical conditions the child has. This is usually defined as a head circumference below the 3rd percentile. The doctor will also perform a complete physical examination and obtain a complete prenatal and birth history of the child.