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Microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by an abnormally small head size (microcephaly) and abnormalities of small blood vessels in the skin called capillaries (capillary malformations). Explore symptoms, inheritance, genetics of this condition.
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The primary symptom of microcephaly is having a head size that is much smaller than that of other children of the same age and sex.
Head size is a measure of the distance around the top of the child's head (circumference). Using standardized growth charts, health care providers compare the measurement with other children's measurements in percentiles.
Some children just have small heads, with a measurement that falls below an established value for children of the same age and sex. In children with microcephaly, head size measures much smaller than average for the child's age and sex.
A child with more-severe microcephaly may also have a sloping forehead.
Chances are your health care provider will detect microcephaly at your baby's birth or at a regular well-baby checkup. However, if you think your baby's head is small for the baby's age and sex or isn't growing as it should, talk to your provider.
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Microcephaly usually is the result of a problem with brain development, which can occur in the womb (congenital) or during infancy. Microcephaly may be genetic. Other causes may include:
•Craniosynostosis (kray-nee-o-sin-os-TOE-sis). Early fusing of the joints (sutures) between the bony plates that form an infant's skull keeps the brain from growing. Treating craniosynostosis usually means an infant needs surgery to separate the fused bones. This surgery relieves pressure on the brain, giving it enough space to grow and develop.
•Genetic changes. Down syndrome and other conditions may result in microcephaly.
•Decreased oxygen to the fetal brain (cerebral anoxia). Certain complications of pregnancy or delivery can impair oxygen delivery to a baby's brain.
•Infections passed to the fetus during pregnancy. These include toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, German measles (rubella), chickenpox (varicella) and Zika virus.
•Exposure to drugs, alcohol or certain toxic chemicals in the womb. Any of these may affect fetal brain development during pregnancy.
Some children with microcephaly achieve developmental milestones even though their heads will always be small for their age and sex. But depending on the cause and severity of the microcephaly, complications may include:
•Developmental delays, including speech and movement
•Difficulties with coordination and balance
•Dwarfism or short stature
•Facial distortions
•Hyperactivity
Learning your child has microcephaly can raise questions about future pregnancies. Work with your health care provider to determine the cause of the microcephaly. If the cause is genetic, you may want to talk to a genetics counselor about the risk of microcephaly in future pregnancies.
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By Mayo Clinic Staff
May 26, 2022
1.Safier RA, et al., eds. Neurology. In: Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 13, 2022.
2.Boom JA. Microcephaly in infants and children: Etiology and evaluation. https://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 13, 2022.
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Microcephaly is an abnormally small head. Often the head is small because the brain is small and abnormally developed. Microcephaly can be caused by many disorders, including genetic abnormalities, infections, and brain defects, or can sometimes run in families.
Microcephaly serves as an important neurological indication or warning sign, but no uniformity exists in its definition. It is usually defined as a head circumference (HC) more than two standard deviations below the mean for age and sex.
Microcephaly refers to an abnormally small head defined as a head circumference (HC) of 3 standard deviations (SD) or more below the mean for the gestational age [1-4]. Microcephaly can be present at birth or it may develop in the first few years of life [6] .
Microcephaly is an abnormally small head. A baby with microcephaly usually has a small brain, and the brain may not have formed properly. Microcephaly is rare. Microcephaly can be caused by many problems that occur in the womb, including infections, lack of oxygen, lack of proper nutrition, and birth defects of the brain.
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Oct 23, 2020 · DESCRIPTION. In the United States, about 1 in every 800–5,000 babies are born with microcephaly. There is a wide range due to different causes at different ages. It is also because of a range of severities (mild or borderline, moderate and severe).
