What is microcephaly?
Microcephaly is a rare lifelong condition where a person’s head is smaller than expected.
Usually, even a baby is born with a smaller head than average (primary microcephaly), or the baby’s head is the expected size at birth, but then stops growing (secondary microcephaly).
What causes microcephaly?
There are a few potential causes of microcephaly. These include:
- Infections during pregnancy such as the Zika virus
- Genetic abnormalities
There is no treatment for microcephaly, but early intervention can improve the person’s quality of life.
What are the symptoms of microcephaly?
Symptoms that can be associated with microcephaly include:
- Seizures
- Balance issues
- Hearing loss
- Vision problems
Depending on the severity of their microcephaly, some babies will need treatment and care to manage these symptoms and other health problems that may arise.
People with mild microcephaly will often only experience a smaller head.
