Microcephaly

 I’m living with Microcephaly

The part of the skull that houses the brain is called the cranium. Initially, the bones of the cranium are not fused together. As the brain grows, it exerts pressure on the cranium, which expands at a rate of three centimetres per month until the child reaches 18 months of age. Between the ages of four and six, the cranium expands by about one centimetre per year. However, if the brain stops growing due to a defect, the cranium doesn't receive enough pressure to expand properly. As a result, the overall size of the head remains smaller. This condition is called microcephaly, meaning "small head."

Children affected by this condition often experience slower physical growth and generally shorter stature, a phenomenon also known as dwarfism. Due to the reduced brain size, their cognitive development is impaired. These children may face difficulties with speech and hearing, and are more likely to suffer from other neurological disorders.

I’m living with microcephaly

So far, 28 genes associated with microcephaly have been discovered worldwide. In Pakistan, a new variant of the condition has been identified, linked to a protein termination mutation. One of the primary reasons for the spread of microcephaly in Pakistan is consanguineous marriages, where family members marry within their own bloodline.

In the United States, approximately one in every 800 to 5,000 children is affected by microcephaly. However, in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir in Pakistan, the prevalence is higher, with about one in every 1,000 children affected. The main reason for this higher incidence in these areas is genetic, as families in these regions have not married outside their lineage for four to six generations.

Keywords: microcephaly, cranium development, genetic mutation, consanguineous marriages, neurological disorders, protein termination mutation.