Kichwa Kidogo cha Mtoto

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

• Doctors may find that the baby has microcephaly before birth when they do a routine ultrasound of the fetus

• There's no cure for microcephaly, but therapy may help babies maximize their abilities

Maikrosefali (Ulinganisho wa Ukubwa wa Kichwa)

Picha

Katika picha hii, mtoto aliye upande wa kushoto ana ubongo na kichwa kidogo, kuonyesha ana maikrosefali.

Picha kwa hisani ya Vituo vya Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa, Kituo cha Kitaifa cha Kasoro za Kuzaliwa Nazo na Ulemavu.

Causes of microcephaly include:

• Infections in the mother during pregnancy, including rubella and Zika virus infection

• Exposure to certain drugs or toxins before birth

• Lack of oxygen before or during birth

• Genetic problems, such as Down syndrome

The baby has a noticeably small head. The other symptoms of microcephaly depend on how severely the brain is damaged or underdeveloped. Symptoms include:

• Seizures

• Developmental delays

• Feeding problems

• Hearing or vision problems

• Problems with movement or balance

• Hyperactivity 

• Intellectual disabilities

Kichwa Kidogo cha Mtoto

Picha

Picha hii inaonyesha mtoto mwenye kichwa kidogo. Pia ana ulemavu mwingine.

© Springer Science+Business Media

Doctors can tell if a baby has microcephaly when they do a routine ultrasound between the late 2nd and early 3rd trimester of pregnancy. If doctors suspect microcephaly once a baby is born, doctors will do:

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computed tomography) of the head

• Blood tests

There's no cure or standard treatment for microcephaly. Treatment may include:

• Treating the symptoms caused by brain damage

• Early intervention, which offers therapy to babies to improve their physical and mental abilities