Evaluation of microcephaly in well-child health follow-up

Microcephaly develops as a result of insufficiency or pause in brain development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors and the effects of microcephaly on development in children with microcephaly. Personal health records of 147 children who were followed up in a university hospital's Well Child Outpatient Clinic between 2002 and 2020 were evaluated. Forty nine of 147 diagnosed with microcephaly and 98 of 147 had head circumference within the normal range for age. Head circumference SDS value as -2 SDS or below at birth or at any postnatal follow-up was defined as microcephaly. In a retrospective case-control study, children with microcephaly had lower maternal and paternal age, lower gestational week, birth weight and birth length. Being born small for gestational age (SGA), problem in fetal ultrasonography, and maternal preeclampsia were also higher in microcephalic children. The education levels of parents were higher in those without microcephaly. In microcephaly cases, the presence of neurological problems, congenital heart disease and dysmorphic findings was higher, and the ages of sitting unsupported were later. Being born SGA (OR 17,162, 95% CI 6,297-46,772) and presence of neurological problems (OR 9.65, 95% CI 1,190-78,303) were determined as risk factors for microcephaly. It is important to determine the etiology and risk factors in order to determine the prognosis of microcephaly, to provide genetic counseling when necessary, and to determine accompanying diseases. Additionaly our study is the first to show that paternal age may be a ethiological factor in cases of microcephaly