What infections can cause microcephaly?
Causes of congenital microcephaly include: Prenatal infections: Exposure to the Zika virus, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, can damage nerve cells in the brain. Other infectious agents can also cause microcephaly, including rubella (German measles), chickenpox, toxoplasma, and cytomegalovirus.
What disease causes a large head?
Macrocephaly refers to a head circumference (the measurement around the widest part of the head) that is greater than the 98th percentile on the growth chart. Causes of macrocephaly include: Benign familial macrocephaly – other family members with big heads (inherited)
What causes increase in head size?
Increased head size may be from any of the following: Benign familial macrocephaly (family tendency toward large head size) Canavan disease (condition that affects how the body breaks down and uses a protein called aspartic acid) Hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling)
What genetic syndromes cause macrocephaly?
Macrocephaly may be associated with generalized disorders of growth, such as achondroplasia, Beckwith syndrome, cerebral gigantism (Sotos syndrome), fragile X syndrome, Marshall-Smith syndrome, thanatophoric dysplasia, Cowden syndrome, Sotos syndrome, and Weaver syndrome (see Box 5.6).
Can rubella cause microcephaly?
If a pregnant woman has rubella, also known as German measles, it can cause congenital microcephaly in the developing child alongside other symptoms such as eye, hearing, and heart issues.
What is Alexander disease?
Alexander disease is one of a group of neurological conditions known as the leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies are disorders that result from abnormalities in myelin, the “white matter” that protects nerve fibers in the brain.
How common is benign macrocephaly?
Macrocephaly is a relatively common clinical condition affecting up to 5% of the pediatric population (1). It encompasses a broad range of clinical entities ranging from benign familial macrocephaly and Benign External Hydrocephalus (BEH) to more than 200 genetic disorders.
What causes macrocephaly in babies?
One of the most common reasons for macrocephaly is something that doctors call “benign familial macrocephaly.” In other words, big heads run in your family. A doctor might determine that a baby’s big head is inherited by measuring the heads of the parents.
What is Smith kingsmore syndrome?
Description. Collapse Section. Smith-Kingsmore syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by a head that is larger than normal (macrocephaly ), intellectual disability, and seizures. In some people with this condition, the ability to speak is delayed or never develops.
What is Hunter syndrome disease?
Hunter syndrome is a very rare, inherited genetic disorder caused by a missing or malfunctioning enzyme. In Hunter syndrome, the body doesn’t have enough of the enzyme iduronate 2-sulfatase.
Can CMV cause microcephaly?
Conclusions and Relevance Congenital cytomegalovirus infection increases the prevalence of microcephaly at birth by at least 7-fold. Prevention of CMV infection during pregnancy might substantially reduce the number of newborns with microcephaly and other cCMV-related outcomes in the United States.
What is Torch pregnancy?
TORCH Syndrome refers to any of a group of infections in newborns due to one of the TORCH infectious agents having crossed the placenta during pregnancy. The acronym TORCH refers to (T)oxoplasmosis, (O)ther Agents, (R)ubella (or German Measles), (C)ytomegalovirus, and (H)erpes Simplex.
Does Zika virus cause microcephaly?
Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth.
Does meningitis cause microcephaly?
Chromosomal disorders (such as Down syndrome), metabolic disorders, bacterial meningitis, and lack of oxygen all can cause microcephaly.
What is Acrocallosal syndrome?
Acrocallosal syndrome is a rare condition characterized by a brain abnormality called agenesis of the corpus callosum, the presence of extra fingers and toes (polydactyly), and distinctive facial features.
What are the environmental events associated with macrocephaly?
Environmental events associated with macrocephaly include infection, neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (bleeding within the infant brain), subdural hematoma (bleeding beneath the outer lining of the brain), subdural effusion (collection of fluid beneath the outer lining of the brain), and arachnoid cysts (cysts on the brain surface).
What is macrocephaly and why does it matter?
It’s often a symptom of complications or conditions in the brain. There’s a standard used to define macrocephaly: The circumference of a person’s head is more than two standard deviations above average for their age. Or, their head is larger than the 98th percentile.
Can fluid build up on the brain cause macrocephaly?
However, there are several potential causes of macrocephaly that require medical attention, one of which is a fluid buildup on the brain. Extra fluid can put pressure on the brain, increasing the risk of many health complications. The severity of the condition depends on the amount of fluid present.
What causes macrocephaly in infants?
Genes are responsible for many cases of macrocephaly. When an infant with a large head has a family history of larger-than-average head sizes, doctors will diagnose them with benign familial macrocephaly. Infants with benign familial macrocephaly will not experience any symptoms other than a large head and will have no additional health concerns.