Microcephaly manifestations and treatment

Microcephaly is a serious malformation of the brain. This disease is characterized by a reduction in the circumference of the skull( and the brain, respectively) by two or more segmental abnormalities, expressed by a delay in mental development, convulsive syndrome, and impaired motor function. This pathology among mentally retarded children takes up about 20%

causes of microcephaly

Distinguish microcephaly two types:

- Primary( genetic, simple), appears in the early stages of fetal development due to exposure to various adverse factors and infections( toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus)

- Secondary( complicated, combined), develops as a result of brain damage in the last months of intrauterine development, during childbirth, and also in the first months of life

Microcephaly is characteristic of the following syndromes:

- Catrick Syndrome

- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

- Patau Syndrome( Trisomy 13 chromosome)

- Prader-Willie Syndrome

- Edwards Syndrome ( Trisomy 18 chromosome)

- Miller's syndrome

Manifestations of microcephaly

Circumference of the skull is significantly reduced, and the mass of the brain itself can be only 500 - 600 grams;Seams and fontanels close during the first months after birth. Most patients have varying degrees of intellectual abnormalities. The motor sphere in primary microcephaly is relatively preserved, and neurological symptoms are rather weakly expressed. With secondary microcephaly, convulsions occur, motor activity is significantly affected, intellectual shifts are very pronounced.

Diagnosis of this disease is fairly simple and is based on the patient's reduced head size and detected underdeveloped intelligence. Microcephaly must be differentiated from craniostenosis

Treatment microcephaly

To date, specific treatment of the disease does not exist, therefore, applies only symptomatic therapy, which involves taking anticonvulsants, absorbable and sedatives, stimulants, nutrients, vitamins of group B. In a convulsive syndrome is appointed receiving antiepilepticMeans.

More articles on the topic:

1. Myelitis treatment 2. Myasthenia gravis