{"id":2185,"date":"2018-07-17T03:41:10","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T03:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2185"},"modified":"2021-10-12T01:49:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T01:49:03","slug":"10-quick-facts-about-microcephaly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/10-quick-facts-about-microcephaly\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Quick Facts About Microcephaly"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Microcephaly is a rare condition. When a baby is born with a head that is misshapen or smaller than the rest (sometimes with a bulging forehead), this indicates the presence of the condition. In most cases, this leads to physical and mental challenges and impairment. Microcephaly is very rare, and only one case in several thousand live births are reported both in the US and indeed throughout the world.<\/p>\n

Microcephaly is most common when the zika virus is present. Zika is now recognized as a major cause of the WHO. The first links though were made as far back as 1947. Then, in 2007, when there was a major outbreak on the island of Yap and spike in microcephaly cases, scientists knew they had a strong case for \u2018cause\u2019 on their hands. This was true again in the 2015 outbreak in Brazil and culminated in official WHO debriefings in 2016.<\/p>\n

1. Microcephaly Does Not Definitively Mean A Lack Of Normal Intelligence<\/h3>\n

Although microcephaly<\/a> is associated with a lack of brain development and therefore normal head circumference, it does not affect every child in exactly the same way. It is simply not a given that a child born with this condition will not have normal intelligence, even though such a child may also fall on the other side of the spectrum and be severely impaired. Some children with microcephaly will grow up to have normal intelligence levels and a head that will grow bigger.<\/p>\n

However, what usually happens is that they fall behind the accepted growth curves for head circumference. Those who are not the exception and don\u2019t grow up have standard intelligence levels may show mild levels of disability or extreme disability. There may be learning difficulties, slow cognition, or other neurological disorders. In the most extreme cases, the mental impairment unfortunately also leads to or is coupled with physical disabilities. These are the patients that require lifelong intensive care.<\/p>\n

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2. Treatment Cannot Restore Normal Head Shape<\/h3>\n

There is no treatment for microcephaly that can restore a child\u2019s head to the kind of normal shape, size, or appearance that would be expected at any given age. This is not the focus of treatment at all, even from a plastic surgery point of view. Instead, rehabilitation and treatment are centered around decreasing the impact of the deformities and improving or managing mental disabilities. If your child is affected, he or she is usually attended to by a pediatric neurologist and then aided by a full medical management team.<\/p>\n

Treatment<\/a> usually involves early childhood intervention programs that use physiological, speech, and occupational therapists to work on existing strengths, and minimize dysfunctions. If your child has seizures, hyperactivity challenges, and neuromuscular symptoms, often medication is used to ease these symptoms. As a parent, you may also be treated regarding what to expect. You may even be screened so you know your risk of microcephaly in other pregnancies.<\/p>\n

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3. There Is No Test For Microcephaly<\/h3>\n

There are many things you can test a fetus for in pregnancy<\/a>, but microcephaly isn\u2019t one of them. There simply is no accurate means of diagnosis, although ultrasounds help. These are done at 28 weeks, at the end of the second trimester, and at the beginning of the third. Ultrasound readings can help project what the head circumference will be.<\/p>\n

The most accepted test still adhered to by the WHO today is measuring a baby\u2019s head circumference within 24 hours of birth. This is then compared to accepted norms, and the alarm will be raised if, after taking into account a margin of deviation, there is an issue. The circumference is not looked at in isolation, but other barometers such as the length and weight of the baby are factored in, as is gestational age. If microcephaly is suspected, the baby should be referred to a pediatrician for further brain imaging scans.<\/p>\n

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4. There Is No One Definitive Cause<\/h3>\n

When it comes to microcephaly, there is no exact cause-effect correlation cast in stone. There is no single cause, rather only a number of common causes that make it likely to occur. These are the main ones: Infections occurring during pregnancy. The main ones are toxoplasmosis<\/a> (caused by a parasite found in undercooked meat), Campylobacter pylori, herpes, rubella, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, HIV, and Zika. Of these, the zika virus is usually the main cause for grave concern as it can lead not only to this condition but a host of others. Genetic reasons, such as abnormalities due to Down\u2019s syndrome.<\/p>\n

A traumatic injury to the brain during pregnancy, or soon after the baby is born. If the fetus was severely malnourished, such as in cases of war, famine, and situations of dire deprivation. If the fetus was exposed to toxic substances examples include alcohol, toxic metals such as mercury, smoking and radiation.<\/p>\n

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5. Research Into Understanding Microcephaly And Preventing It Is Ongoing<\/h3>\n

There may be no single test or cure for this condition, but that does not mean there is no research into it. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research into understanding healthy brain development, as well as disorders and malfunctions of the brain and nervous system<\/a> that are disease-related. Other institutes and centers also conduct their own research and raise their own funding to do so. Scientists are currently studying genetic patterns and identifying unique genes involved with brain development.<\/p>\n

Scientists are also gaining a better understanding of the makeup of this and other human diseases in general, and how differences in development impact the size of limbs, organs, and tissue. Scientists are also drilling down into the molecular and cellular makeup of microcephaly and how best to anticipate and deal with it. It is clear that so much of this condition still has to be understood.<\/p>\n

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6. The Link Between The Zika Virus And Microcephaly Became Clear In 2015<\/h3>\n

For years, scientists had been arguing that zika<\/a> was a cause of microcephaly. However, thanks to the fact there were no or few zika outbreaks worldwide, this was never confirmed – until 2015. The large zika outbreak in Brazil led to a sudden increase in babies born with this illness, and a public health emergency was declared.<\/p>\n

By October 2015, 14 states in Brazil had reported local transmission of the virus. It is mainly spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, which also spreads dengue and other tropical diseases. If you\u2019re now thinking that scientists are looking for a link between prior dengue and microcephaly, you\u2019d be correct. Pernambuco in north-east Brazil was where most zika cases were occurring; it was also where the highest incidence of microcephaly was recorded. The WHO subsequently added zika to its list of causes and preliminary results of clinical research \u2018officially\u2019 confirmed this.<\/p>\n

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\"\"7. Toxoplasma As A Main Cause Of Microcephaly Is Mainly Spread By Cats<\/h3>\n

Earlier, we spoke about toxoplasma as a cause of microcephaly. It is a parasite in undercooked meat and if you get it while you\u2019re pregnant or even just before, you can pass it on to your unborn baby. Even if your baby does not develop microcephaly, the results can manifest later on in life. They include blindness and mental handicaps.<\/p>\n

So how is it spread? Cats play a big role. Kittens and cats shed parasites<\/a> in their feces, which can be transmitted as long as 3 weeks later. Cats often feed on rodents, reptiles, and other small prey carrying the parasite. If you have a feline and you\u2019re pregnant, you should first have your cat injected against parasite hosting as much as possible. As for you, you should wear gloves when gardening or changing the litter box. After doing so, discard your gloves and wash your hands thoroughly before touching eating utensils or your mouth.<\/p>\n

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\"\"8. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Is Also A Potential Cause Of Microcephaly<\/h3>\n

CMV is rare – only one in 200 babies will be born with it. But, only 20% of these babies will show symptoms and become sick or manifest microcephaly. CMV is risky if you are pregnant as it can cross over the placenta into the fetal safe space housing your baby. In the most severe cases, it can lead to fetal distress or the premature death of the baby prior to birth. The long-term health problems caused by CMV other than microcephaly are not being able to hear, developmental and motor delay, vision loss, seizures.<\/p>\n

Other issues that can occur are jaundice, a low birth weight that persists into the toddler stage, and enlarged liver and spleen, seizure, and damaged eye retinas<\/a>. The test for CMV in a baby is done via saliva, urine, or blood. When the head circumference is small, and the baby tests positively for CMV, there is a high likelihood of microcephaly.<\/p>\n

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9. Sometimes, Microcephaly Is Down To An Abnormal Gene<\/h3>\n

Microcephaly is an autosomal recessive gene abnormality. This means that boys and girls are equally at risk or affected by the gene. Because it is recessive, two sets of the gene, one from each parent, need to be passed down and be present in order to have the condition. Some genetic disorders that lead to microcephaly arising are X-linked. What this means, is that the malfunctioning gene is on the X chromosome. Girls can have the misshapen gene on one of their X chromosomes without showing any outward signs or symptoms of the disease.<\/p>\n

So, they then become carriers for the condition. By contrast, boys have only a single X chromosome. If their X chromosome<\/a> carries a deviant or malfunctioning gene, they will show up outwardly with microcephaly. This genetic tracing accounts for how, in 2002, scientists were able to trace all the incidences of microcephaly in an Amish population to just one couple of generations back.<\/p>\n

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10. If You Have One Child With Microcephaly, There Is A 25% Chance Your Next Child Will Have It Too<\/h3>\n

Genetic screening is of the utmost importance with microcephaly. It is able to give you a clearer picture of whether subsequent pregnancies will be affected or not. If you have one child with autosomal recessive microcephaly, there is a 25% chance another child will be born with microcephaly. These odds will be true of each subsequent pregnancy. For X-linked microcephaly, if you\u2019re a mom and you\u2019re a carrier, there is a high fifty percent chance that a son will have the condition.<\/p>\n

Daughters have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene<\/a>, even if they don\u2019t actually get the condition and the same risk of passing it down to their children. Genetic counseling is sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary. Don\u2019t take DIY genetic kits, as you are looking for specific information, not random facts. Screening, in general, is like looking for a needle in a haystack. You must speak to a genetic tester and tell them what exactly you are looking for.<\/p>\n\r\n

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