What is microcephaly?
"Micro-" means small, and "-cephaly" refers to the head, so microcephaly is a small head.
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A baby with microcephaly usually has a small brain, and the brain may not have formed properly
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Microcephaly is rare
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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
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Doctors may find that the baby has microcephaly before birth when they do a routine ultrasound of the fetus
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There's no cure for microcephaly, but therapy may help babies maximize their abilities
What causes microcephaly?
Causes of microcephaly include:
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Infections in the mother during pregnancy, including rubella and Zika virus infection
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Exposure to certain drugs or toxins before birth
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Lack of oxygen before or during birth
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Genetic problems, such as Down syndrome
