Microcephaly: Symptoms, Characteristics And Treatment
The nervous system is one of the first systems in our body to begin to develop during pregnancy. Throughout the entire pregnancy and even throughout the life of the individual, this system will be modified and developed, especially from pregnancy to the beginning of adulthood.
However, in some cases the brain does not grow as it should or as quickly as usual since pregnancy, causing the birth of children with heads of a much smaller circumference than the average, often linking this to the presence of different alterations and a some degree of intellectual disability. This is what is known as microcephaly..
We understand microcephaly as the situation, condition or neonatal condition in which The skull and brain of the boy or girl present an obvious absence or delay in development at birth or during the first years, compared to other individuals of the same age. It is a rare disorder that can come from different causes. In general, it is considered that the head circumference of a child with microcephaly is between two and three standard deviations below the mean.
Although in some cases children with microcephaly may have a normative level of intelligence, as a general rule this condition progresses with a varying degree of intellectual disability. Various alterations may also occur such as loss of vision, feeding difficulties, generalized slowing of development and seizures.
As time goes by and as the child grows, the face and the rest of the body develop, but the skull still does not grow. For this reason, these types of infants usually have a sunken forehead and an elongated face.
Generally this situation It is detected throughout pregnancyor after the first hours after delivery. However, sometimes it can take years before atypical development is identified, and it is not evident in the first months of life.
Origin of this type of medical condition
There is no single cause that can generate microcephaly, but we can find different disorders and conditions that can cause it. Most of them are conditions and diseases that occur or are transmitted throughout the development of the fetus or during childbirth.
Some disorders, mutations and genetic alterations can cause microcephaly. Among them, trisomies 18 (Edwards syndrome) and 21 (Down syndrome) stand out.
Other of the most frequent causes of microcephaly have to do with the transmission of various viruses from the mother to the fetus. Toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, rubella or the well-known Zika virus have been shown to cause alterations in the fetus that can lead to microcephaly.
In addition, pregnant women must take care of their health and treat diseases such as phenylketonuria or diabetes (which, if not controlled, can also alter the development of the fetus due to the absence of certain nutrients). Likewise, some drugs and the abusive use of alcohol can cause this alteration. Malnutrition also makes it difficult for the future child to develop normally.
Complications during childbirth
Even if fetal development concludes adequately, complications such as anoxia may arise during childbirth that can alter the functioning and development capacity of the brain.
Likewise, although in general the size of the skull increases throughout development thanks to the growth of the brain, the size of the second being what causes the first to be smaller in cases of microcephaly, there are cases in which suturing occurs premature death of the bones of the skull that do not allow the brain to grow, medical condition known as craniosynostosis.
microcephaly There is no treatment that reverses this condition.. The treatments carried out are based on occupational therapy, stimulation and educational practice. It is necessary and very useful to offer therapies focused on speech and psychomotor skills so that these children improve their basic skills, as well as work on the child’s emotional sphere. It is about ensuring that they can lead the best possible standard of living by optimizing their skills and exploiting their potential.
In addition, psychoeducation and counseling for the family and close environment It is essential so that it can help the minor to develop in the most adaptive way possible, at the same time as it allows providing information and allowing the expression of doubts and fears to the family.
One of the conditions that can cause microcephaly is premature hardening of the bony plates of the skull or craniosynostosis, which prevents normal growth and development of the brain by physically limiting it. This specific condition, if detected in time, yes it can be reversed by surgeryso that harmful effects on the brain would be avoided.
Prevention is also essential. The consumption of drugs and certain substances by the mother, malnutrition, non-treatment of medical conditions such as phenylketonuria or the transmission of certain viruses such as toxoplasmosis (which can be spread through cat feces or consumption of uncooked, spoiled or contaminated food) can be possible causes of the appearance of microcephaly, and in some cases they can be avoided.
