Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a rare, neurological disorder in which the circumference of the head is smaller than the average for the age and gender of the infant or child. Microcephaly may be congenital (present at birth) or it may develop in the first few years of life.

The disorder may stem from a wide variety of conditions that cause abnormal growth of the brain, and is often a symptom of syndromes associated with chromosomal abnormalities.

Infants with microcephaly are born with either a normal or reduced head size. Subsequently the head fails to grow while the face continues to develop at a normal rate, producing a child with a small head, a large face, a receding forehead, and a loose, often wrinkled scalp.

As the child grows older, the smallness of the skull becomes more obvious, although the entire body also is often underweight and dwarfed. Development of motor functions and speech may be delayed. Hyperactivity and mental retardation are common occurrences, although the degree of each varies. Convulsions may also occur. Motor ability varies, ranging from clumsiness to spastic quadriplegia.

Generally there is no specific treatment for microcephaly. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. A serious attempt should be made to identify associated congential anomalies and to determine a specific cause of the disorder.

In general, life expectancy for individuals with microcephaly is low and the prognosis for normal brain function is poor. The prognosis varies depending on the presence of associated abnormalities.

Information provided by the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
National Institutes of Health

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.