Having a child is a big dream for many people. It is often the greatest wish of couples who dream of starting a family. But sometimes, problems can occur. Many issues can arise in this regard, such as miscarriage or fetal malformations. Microcephaly, for example, is one of the problems that can bring many complications for the child. Want to know exactly what this condition is, what causes it, its symptoms, and treatments? Check out all the information in today’s text!
What is Microcephaly?
Microcephaly is a rare neurological disorder that causes a child’s head and brain to be smaller than those of others of the same age and sex. This disorder can occur from birth or manifest in the first years of a child’s life. As it can occur at different levels, the consequences it can bring are also diverse, with cases of microcephaly where the child has no intellectual disability at all being extremely rare.
Levels of Microcephaly
As mentioned above, microcephaly can manifest at different levels. Let’s talk a bit more about each of them and point out their main characteristics and aspects. The levels of microcephaly are:
- Mild Microcephaly
- Severe Microcephaly
Mild Microcephaly
Microcephaly considered mild or normal occurs when the child’s skull size is more than two standard deviations smaller than what is usual for their age. In such cases, the deficiencies present are milder, appearing as motor or speech difficulties. In rarer cases, the child shows no deficiency at all and can have cognitive development very close to normal.
Severe Microcephaly
When the child’s skull size is more than three standard deviations smaller, the microcephaly is considered severe or profound. In these cases, besides delayed cognitive development, the child may also present other symptoms such as facial distortions, seizure episodes, among others.
Causes of Microcephaly
To better understand what the condition is and how to deal with it, it’s important to know its main causes. In the case of microcephaly, it can occur due to several causes, such as:
- Use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy
- Bacterial meningitis
- Chromosomal disorders, such as Down Syndrome, Cri du Chat, and Seckel syndrome
- Perinatal infections, such as Zika Virus. In these cases, the condition is called acquired microcephaly.
- Exposure to radiation during pregnancy
Treatments for Microcephaly
First of all, it’s important to know that there is no definitive cure for microcephaly. However, there are treatments that can help a child with this condition have a better quality of life. Treatments for the condition are usually focused on the development of certain aspects of the child, both motor and intellectual. Therefore, treatments may include physical therapy and occupational therapy, for example. A doctor will recommend the best treatment for each particular case. 
How to prevent Microcephaly?
It’s not always possible to prevent microcephaly, but in many cases a pregnant woman can take certain precautions to considerably reduce the risks of this problem occurring. Having genetic counseling before becoming pregnant, for example, can help a woman find out what the chances are of her baby developing this condition and be extra careful to prevent it. Other actions that should be taken to prevent this disease from occurring are not to use any type of drugs, prescription-free medications, or alcohol during pregnancy. A simple wrong choice can jeopardize the entire pregnancy, so it is important to be responsible at this moment. Avoiding contact with people who have any type of infection is also necessary to prevent you from contracting this infection and passing it to your baby. In many cases, this can be the cause of microcephaly. A few years ago, we witnessed a Zika Virus outbreak in Brazil, when it was discovered that it could be an agent of acquired microcephaly. For this reason, taking all necessary precautions to avoid the proliferation of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the same one that transmits dengue, is also a form of preventing microcephaly.
How to deal with a Baby with Microcephaly?
Even though there may be children who have normal cognitive development despite having microcephaly, the most common situation is that this condition causes problems such as delays in mental, motor, and psychological development. This means that, probably, parents will have to deal with additional needs beyond those of a completely healthy child. For this reason, it is also important that parents are psychologically prepared for the challenges microcephaly imposes daily, since they will be responsible for someone who, depending on the severity of the condition, will be extremely dependent on them. It’s not an easy mission, but it must be undertaken with the utmost effort. Even though the big dream of many couples may not happen as planned, it’s important to understand that a baby with microcephaly can live a normal life, as much as possible. Of course, this requires a greater effort from the parents and adapting to a life they were not prepared for. Still, all the love, care, and attention are necessary so that the child can have a happy life with the support of their parents at all times.
