Microcephaly
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What is Microcephaly?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
What is Microcephaly?
Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the circumference of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has not
developed properly or has stopped growing. Microcephaly can be present at birth or it may develop in the first few years
of life. It is most often caused by genetic abnormalities that interfere with the growth of the cerebral cortex during the
early months of fetal development. It is associated with Down’s syndrome, chromosomal syndromes, and neurometabolic syndromes.
Babies may also be born with microcephaly if, during pregnancy, their mother abused drugs or alcohol, became infected with
a cytomegalovirus, rubella (German measles), or varicella (chicken pox) virus, was exposed to certain toxic chemicals, or
had untreated phenylketonuria (PKU). Babies born with microcephaly will have a smaller than normal head that will fail to
grow as they progress through infancy. Depending on the severity of the accompanying syndrome, children with microcephaly
may have mental retardation, delayed motor functions and speech, facial distortions, dwarfism or short stature, hyperactivity,
seizures, difficulties with coordination and balance, and other brain or neurological abnormalities. Some children with microcephaly
will have normal intelligence and a head that will grow bigger, but they will track below the normal growth curves for head
circumference.
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
The Arc of the United States 1010 Wayne Avenue Suite 650 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Info@thearc.org http://www.thearc.org Tel: 301-565-3842 Fax: 301-565-3843 or -5342 |
Birth Defect Research for Children, Inc. 800 Celebration Avenue Suite 225 Celebration, FL 34747 betty@birthdefects.org http://www.birthdefects.org Tel: 407-566-8304 Fax: 407-566-8341 |
March of Dimes Foundation 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 askus@marchofdimes.com http://www.marchofdimes.com Tel: 914-428-7100 888-MODIMES (663-4637) Fax: 914-428-8203 |
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013-1492 nichcy@aed.org http://www.nichcy.org Tel: 800-695-0285 Fax: 202-884-8441 |
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Last updated February 13, 2007