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.
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| 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.
