Microcephaly most often occurs because the brain fails to grow at a normal rate. Skull growth is determined by brain growth. Brain growth takes place while in the womb and during infancy.
Conditions that affect brain growth can cause microcephaly. These include infections, genetic disorders, and severe malnutrition.
Genetic conditions that cause microcephaly include: Cornelia de Lange syndrome Cri du chat syndrome Down syndrome Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome Seckel syndrome Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome Trisomy 18 Trisomy 21 These additional conditions may indirectly cause microcephaly: Uncontrolled phenylketonuria in the mother Methylmercury poisoning Congenital rubella Congenital toxoplasmosis Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) Use of certain drugs during pregnancy, especially alcohol and phenytoin
What causes Microcephaly?
Microcephaly most often occurs because the brain fails to grow at a normal rate. Skull growth is determined by brain growth. Brain growth takes place while in the womb and during infancy.
Conditions that affect brain growth can cause microcephaly. These include infections, genetic disorders, and severe malnutrition.
Genetic conditions that cause microcephaly include: {{NAME}} syndrome Cri du chat syndrome Down syndrome Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome Seckel syndrome Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome Trisomy 18 Trisomy 21 These additional conditions may indirectly cause microcephaly: Uncontrolled phenylketonuria in the mother {{ORGANIZATION}} poisoning {{ORGANIZATION}} rubella Congenital toxoplasmosis {{ORGANIZATION}} cytomegalovirus ({{ORGANIZATION}}) Use of certain drugs during pregnancy, especially alcohol and phenytoin