Microcephaly
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - Q02
What is microcephaly?
Microcephaly is a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than expected, often due to abnormal brain development. Zika virus infection is one of the causes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of microcephaly vary and include intellectual disability and delayed speech. In severe cases, seizures and difficulty with movement may occur.
Causes
Microcephaly can result from genetic changes or certain infections during pregnancy, such as Zika, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus.
Diagnosis
Microcephaly can be diagnosed during prenatal exams, still during pregnancy, or after the baby is born. The doctor evaluates the shape and measures the head circumference.
Prevention Method
To reduce the risk of a child being born with microcephaly, it is important to avoid situations that increase the risk of infections such as Zika, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus, among other causes.
Treatment
There is no cure for microcephaly. Treatment involves managing symptoms and working on potentially affected skills. Children need to be closely monitored.
Duration
Microcephaly is an incurable condition that accompanies the patient throughout life.
Is it cContagious?
Microcephaly is not a contagious condition, but infections that can cause microcephaly are transmissible in different ways.
Can it be contracted more than once?
Microcephaly is an incurable disease. It is only diagnosed once.