Porencephaly is an extremely rare disorder of the central
nervous system in which a cyst or cavity filled with
cerebrospinal fluid develops in the brain. It is usually the
result of damage from stroke or infection after birth (the more
common type), but it can also be caused by abnormal development
before birth (which is inherited and less common). Diagnosis is
usually made before an infant reaches his or her first birthday.
Symptoms of porencephaly include delayed growth and development,
spastic hemiplegia (slight or incomplete paralysis), hypotonia
(low muscle tone), seizures (often infantile spasms), and
macrocephaly (large head) or microcephaly (small head). Children
with porencephaly may have poor or absent speech development,
epilepsy, hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain),
spastic contractures (shrinkage or shortening of the muscles),
and mental retardation. |March of Dimes 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605 Tel: 914-997-4488 888-MODIMES (663-4637)
|National Organization for Rar