Microcephaly: A rare disoder

Introduction:

We often see some newborn with smaller heads, and we wonder what it might be. Episode 17 that their party is of average size and their head is considerably small. That condition is called microcephaly. Microcephaly is the condition wherein the newborn infant’s head size is smaller than the average head size. This is usually seen when the infant has just stepped into the world. The size of the head depends on the severity of the defect. The infants with this defect can be easily recognizable.

Causes:

A concrete cause of Microcephaly is still unknown. Microcephaly is also known to be a genetic defect. The gene for microcephaly is usually recessive. It is also said that microcephaly is an X linked genetic disorder. However, it is also known that it is caused by improper development of brain during pregnancy.  the causes of microcephaly can be attributed to the mother’s exposure during pregnancy to viruses such as rubella and even malnutrition our exposure to harmful substances such as alcohol drugs and chemicals it can also be attributed to interruption in blood supply during the development. Thus, proper care along with genetic counselling should be taken before conceiving.

Diagnosis:

The infant can be diagnosed with microcephaly before pregnancy. The various test can be used to detect the genes of the foetus and thus examine the possibility of this disorder. This genetic disorder can also be detected during sonography as it will show that the size is comparatively smaller. It can be also diagnosed after birth by using various screening tests for new-born infants. Microcephaly is an uncommon genetic disorder. It is seen 1 in 6,000.

Effects:

Microcephaly is caused by slower growth of the brain which results in a smaller size. Thus, it can be seen that infants with microcephaly show delayed functions of the brain. They may also fail to thrive due to their slow growth. They may face seizures and improper coordination of various brain and body activities. They have learning disability due to slower growth. There may be some permanent defects in vision, hearing speech or muscle coordination.

Treatments:

Microcephaly is said to be a genetic disorder. So, there is usually no treatment available for this. However, if an infant is exposed to a highly stimulating environment which helps in the development of the brain then the severity of this disorder can be reduced. Even good nutrition and foods that promote the development of the brain can help reduce the severity of this disorder and help the infant to cope better with this disorder. Infants with microcephaly need special education during school as their development is comparatively slower than the average. A proper set of instructions for the coping will be available at any paediatrician. The structure may also change in accordance with the severity of the disorder.

I would like to conclude by saying that proper genetic counselling should be taken before conceiving. And good care of the foetus should be taken during pregnancy so as to avoid any complications in the life of the mother or the baby.

References:

• https://vector.childrenshospital.org/2011/07/saving-grace-a-whodunit-solved-with-clues-from-the-middle-east/
• https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html#:~:text=Microcephaly%20is%20a%20condition%20where,in%20a%20smaller%20head%20size.