Microcephaly

Microcephaly is an abnormally small head.

• A baby with microcephaly usually has a small brain, and the brain may not have formed properly

• Microcephaly is rare

• Microcephaly can be caused by many problems that occur in the womb, including infections, lack of oxygen, lack of proper nutrition, and birth defects of the brain

• Doctors may find that the baby has microcephaly before birth when they do a routine ultrasound of the fetus

• There's no cure for microcephaly, but therapy may help babies maximize their abilities

Microcephaly (Head Size Comparison)

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Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

Causes of microcephaly include:

• Infections in the mother during pregnancy, including rubella and Zika virus infection

• Exposure to certain drugs or toxins before birth

• Lack of oxygen before or during birth

• Genetic problems, such as Down syndrome

The baby has a noticeably small head. The other symptoms of microcephaly depend on how severely the brain is damaged or underdeveloped. Symptoms include:

• Seizures

• Developmental delays

• Feeding problems

• Hearing or vision problems

• Problems with movement or balance

• Hyperactivity 

• Intellectual disabilities

Microcephaly

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© Springer Science+Business Media

Doctors can tell if a baby has microcephaly when they do a routine ultrasound between the late 2nd and early 3rd trimester of pregnancy. If doctors suspect microcephaly once a baby is born, doctors will do:

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computed tomography) of the head

• Blood tests

There's no cure or standard treatment for microcephaly. Treatment may include:

• Treating the symptoms from brain damage

• Early intervention, which offers therapy to babies to improve their physical and mental abilities