How common is microcephaly in UK?

Microcephaly is a rare birth defect that causes a baby’s head to be much smaller than normal . In the UK, it affects just one or two babies in every 10,000 .

What is considered mild microcephaly?

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected, compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with mild microcephaly often don’t have problems other than small head size.

Can you outgrow microcephaly?

Microcephaly is a lifelong condition that has no cure. Treatment focuses on preventing or reducing problems and maximizing a child’s abilities. Children born with microcephaly need to see their healthcare team often. They will need tests to track the growth of the head.

What happens if a baby’s head is too small?

Severe microcephaly is a more serious, extreme form of this condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. Severe microcephaly can result because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy, or the brain started to develop correctly and then was damaged at some point during pregnancy.

What happens if a 1 year old’s brain stops growing?

Microcephaly is a rare nervous system disorder that causes a baby’s head to be small and not fully developed. The child’s brain stops growing as it should. This can happen while the baby is still in the mother’s womb or within the first few years of birth.

When should I be concerned about my baby’s head circumference?

When should my baby’s head circumference be measured? The WHO guidance advises that: “Head circumference should be measured around birth, at the 6-8 week check up and at any time after that if there are any worries about the child’s head growth or development”.

How common is microcephaly in the UK?

In the UK, it affects just one or two babies in every 10,000 . During pregnancy, your baby’s head grows because his brain grows. Microcephaly happens when a baby’s brain either doesn’t develop properly during pregnancy . It can happen on its own or in combination with other birth defects

Is there a treatment for microcephaly?

There is no specific treatment for microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby has a head size much smaller compared with other babies of the same age and sex. Head size is an important measurement to monitor a child’s brain growth. The severity of microcephaly ranges from mild to severe.

What is microcephaly and how is it defined?

Microcephaly is a neonatal malformation defined as a head size much smaller compared with other babies of the same age and sex. If this combines with poor brain growth, babies with microcephaly can…

What is microcephaly and how does it affect pregnancy?

Microcephaly means the baby will have an abnormally small head and can be associated with abnormal brain development. This is also known as congenital Zika syndrome. Specific recommendations for pregnant women considering travel to affected countries or areas can be found in the “other risks” section of the NaTHNaC country information pages.