Question

clinical definition of microcephaly? other causes? Answer in 200 or more words in an essay please

Answer 1

Microcephaly

A single zygote turning into a full grown baby is no less a wonder. The single cell zygote passes through several orders of cellular reorganization and tissue development to give rise to a healthy baby. But sometimes children are born with birth defects. One such birth defect is Microcephaly.

Microcephaly is the condition where the baby's head is smaller as compared to the babies of same age and sex. They might have smaller and underdeveloped brain. This condition can occur in isolation or in combination with other disorders. There are severe forms of this condition where the size of the head is goes much smaller. The occurrence of microcephaly is rare. Only 2-12 in 10,000 live births have the defect.

Several symptoms are associated with microcephaly. Important ones are, Seizures, intellectual disability, hearing problems, movement and balance problems...etc. There are several reasons for the defect to occur. The exposure to toxic chemicals, lack of nutrients, drug addictions, interrupting blood supply to baby's brain while in womb...etc can cause microcephaly. Infections from Zika virus are also associated with microcephaly. The Craniosynostosis condition where the joints between the skull bony pates join which do not allow the brain to grow. Chromosomal abnormalities can also cause the defect.

There is no cure for this condition. The babies are to be kept under a watch /guardian throughout their life.