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(Ivanhoe Newswire) A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology finds that children with small heads are at risk of neurologic and cognitive problems and should be screened for these problems.
It's called microcephaly, a medical condition in which the circumference of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing. It affects more than 25,000 infants in the U.S. each year. If it is not present at birth, it usually has developed by the time a child is two years old.
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"It should be noted though, lead author Stephen Ashwal, MD, a child neurologist at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California, was quoted as saying, that some children with small head size have normal development and do not develop any related conditions or problems."
"Regardless, the evidence suggests that children with microcephaly are more likely to have certain neurologic conditions, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy, as well as mental retardation and eye and ear disorders," said Ashwal. "In fact, the evidence shows that children with microcephaly are at risk for developmental delay and learning disorders. For these reasons, it is necessary for doctors to recognize microcephaly and check the child for these associated problems, which often require special treatments. This is an important recommendation, as it allows doctors to provide more accurate advice and counseling to families who have a child with microcephaly."
Doctors may also consider screening for coexisting conditions, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy. "Forty percent of children with microcephaly also have epilepsy, 20 percent also have cerebral palsy, 50 percent also have mental retardation, and 20 to 50 percent also have eye and ear problems," said Ashwal.
Brain scans such as an MRI or CT scan, as well as genetic testing, may be useful in identifying the causes of microcephaly. Ashwal said even if a small head size runs in families, it is still important to see a doctor because of the risk of other conditions. He pointed out that it is important to tell the doctor about any family history of neurologic disease.
SOURCE: Neurology, September 15, 2009
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