Microcephaly Definition, Causes and More
Article Sources
- 1. 'Microcephaly.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 June 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microcephaly/symptoms-causes/syc-20375051.
- 2. 'Microcephaly: Boston Children's Hospital. Boston Childrens Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/microcephaly.
- 3. 'Default - Stanford Children's Health.' Stanford Children's Health - Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=microcephaly-90-P02610.
- 4. Hanzlik, Emily, and Joseph Gigante. 'Microcephaly.' Children (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 9 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483622/.
- 5. 'Facts about Microcephaly.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Oct. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html.
- 6. 'Microcephaly: Symptoms and Causes: Boston Children's Hospital.' Boston Childrens Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/microcephaly/symptoms-and-causes.
- 7. 'Microcephaly: Treatments: Boston Children's Hospital.' Boston Childrens Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/microcephaly/treatments.
- 8. 'Microcephaly: Frequently Asked Questions: Boston Children's Hospital.' Boston Childrens Hospital, www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/m/microcephaly/frequently-asked-questions.
- 9. 'Facts about Craniosynostosis.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Oct. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/craniosynostosis.html.
- 10. 'Craniosynostosis.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 Dec. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/craniosynostosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354517.
Prenatal Causes of Microcephaly
Genetic mutations often cause microcephaly, and chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, may play a role in the development of microcephaly. An expectant mother's poor diet, use of alcohol and exposure to drugs and certain chemicals may cause microcephaly to develop in her unborn child. If the expectant mother acquires infections, such as rubella, varicella, toxoplasmosis or Zika virus, during pregnancy, the baby may have microcephaly.
Lack of oxygen to the baby's brain during pregnancy or delivery is another potential cause of microcephaly. The condition may also arise if the child's mother has uncontrolled phenylketonuria.1‘Microcephaly.’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 June 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/microcephaly/symptoms-causes/syc-20375051.
