Macrocephaly is a condition where a baby’s head is larger than normal, caused by an enlarged brain, fluid buildup, or genetic conditions. It can lead to developmental delays, but benign cases require no special treatment.
Macrocephaly is a condition in which a baby’s head is larger than normal. If the head circumference is more than two standard deviations above the mean for children of a similar race and age, the child will be diagnosed with macrocephaly. There are a number of causes for this condition, which is not curable because it involves skeletal abnormalities. Once the skull has grown to an unusually large size, it cannot be made smaller.
Also known as macrocephaly or megalocephaly, macrocephaly is commonly caused by an enlarged brain or a buildup of fluid in the skull. Both conditions force the skull to enlarge to accommodate a greater volume. In the case of an enlarged brain, no treatment may be recommended, but the fluid in the brain may be drained with a shunt. Because a baby’s skull is still growing, draining the fluid early can slow growth, allowing the baby’s head to grow to a normal size, or it can reduce the severity of macrocephaly.
Another cause of macrocephaly is a chronic subdural hematoma, in which blood in the brain causes the skull to grow to accommodate the extra fluid. This condition can be very serious. All of the above causes of macrocephaly can lead to developmental delays, including movement disorders, intellectual delays, and seizures. For this reason, when an unusually large head is identified, care is taken to diagnose it correctly to ensure that everything possible is done for the patient.
Macrocephaly can also be benign in nature. Benign or familial macrocephaly has no associated problems. Some people, in other words, just have big heads. This condition is also linked to some genetic conditions which can cause a variety of medical problems which include abnormalities in skull development. These conditions can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after delivery with observation, tests, or medical imaging studies that can identify abnormalities.
In the case of benign macrocephaly, parents don’t have to do anything special to meet their baby’s needs. Macrocephaly that is related to another medical problem may require more monitoring and treatment, including occupational therapy to help children with movement disorders and treatment of complications associated with many genetic disorders that lead to abnormal head sizes. It is important for parents of children with genetic abnormalities to stand up for their children openly; each condition manifests itself slightly differently, and proactive care can make a big difference in quality of life, future health, and independence.
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