Risk factors for Microcephaly
THE 2015-2016 outbreak of the Zika virus has shed light on microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in children, which, according to paediatrician Dr Anona Griffith, refers to a group of conditions in which the head circumference is smaller than that expected for infants of similar age and sex.
The condition, which has been seen in hundreds of cases in Brazil since the outbreak of the virus, has a host of causes.
“It [microcephaly] occurs as a result of improper brain development or cessation of brain growth. Microcephaly has many causes, some of which affect brain growth during foetal development and others after birth,” Dr Griffith said.
Dr Griffith pointed out that genetic and chromosomal disorders like Down’s syndrome, maternal infections such as rubella, parental intake choices such as exposure to alcohol or drug abuse, or even the premature closure of the joints that separate the skull bones, could affect foetal development of the brain and by extension result in microcephaly.
She explained that while not all children with microcephaly suffer from development problems, depending on the severity of other complications, life could be quite difficult for the child with microcephaly.
“Children with microcephaly may have challenges depending on its cause and the severity of the underlying condition,” Dr Griffith said.
Some of these include:
•Impaired intellectual and cognitive development
• Seizures
• Speech delays
• Delayed movement
• Issues with coordination and balance
• Facial distortion
• Brain and neurological abnormalities.
Dr Griffith said while microcephaly occurs more frequently in foetal development, it could also be acquired after birth, often resulting from a lack of oxygen or infections.
While no cure exists for microcephaly, parents or guardians of children with the condition should ensure that they manage the condition well.
“Management of the condition involves a multidisciplinary approach to maximise the child’s potential and improve the quality of life, as it is a lifelong condition which is usually not correctable,” Dr Griffith advised.
She encouraged the involvement of clinicians and adjunct specialists, neurologists, and speech and occupational therapists as necessary to assist children in areas where they need help.
