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Porencephaly is a rare condition where small cysts appear in the cerebral hemisphere, caused by abnormalities in fetal or infant development. Symptoms vary but can include lack of muscle tone, paralysis, seizures, and developmental delays. While there is no cure, supportive care can help manage symptoms. It is important to monitor children for any signs of deviation from expected developmental milestones.
Porencephaly is a rare condition characterized by the appearance of small cysts in the cerebral hemisphere. This head disorder can be caused by abnormalities in fetal or infant development and can vary in severity. Some patients are severely disabled by porencephaly, while others can lead relatively normal lives despite holes in the brain. Classically, porencephaly is diagnosed when a child displays neurological abnormalities.
Most commonly, porencephaly is caused by abnormalities in the development of a newborn’s brain. If a child suffers a stroke or develops an infection in the brain, it can cause a destructive lesion to become encysted as the brain tries to protect itself. Over time, the cyst becomes lined with smooth tissue and fills with cerebrospinal fluid. Abnormalities during fetal development can also lead to the development of one or more cysts on the brain.
The symptoms of porencephaly vary depending on the location of the cyst or cysts and their size. Physical problems such as lack of muscle tone, paralysis and seizures can occur, along with developmental delays, particularly with language development. The patient may also fail to thrive due to porencephaly. When these symptoms are observed, a pediatrician may order medical imaging studies of the brain and refer the patient to a pediatric neurologist who specializes in neurological disorders in children and infants.
It is important to monitor children for any signs of deviation from expected developmental milestones. While some variation from the average is expected and not a cause for concern, radical variations or signs of neurological abnormalities are a cause for concern, and parents shouldn’t be afraid to share concerns with a pediatrician. A doctor would much rather have early problems brought to her attention than to see a patient when the problems have become much more severe because the parents have delayed treatment out of shyness.
Because the damage to the brain has already been done, porencephaly cannot be cured. However, a variety of techniques can be used to manage symptoms, including physical therapy, speech therapy, and medications to minimize seizures. Adequate supportive care can help a patient with porencephaly lead a normal, active life, but parents usually need to be proactive advocates for their children to ensure they get the care and support they need. Parents should not blame themselves if porencephaly develops in a child; There is usually nothing that can be done to prevent it, other than getting early treatment for strokes and infections to reduce the damage caused by these medical problems.
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