Table 1 Etiological agents and risk factors for microcephaly
Period and types | Etiology |
|---|---|
Congenital | |
Genetic | Inherited genetic disorders, syndromes and mutations |
External, chemical agents | Brain injury due to teratogenic drugs, toxins and chemical products, including foetal alcohol syndrome, radiation |
Metabolic diseases | Diabetes |
Nutritional | Malnutrition (maternal malnutrition, maternal folate deficiency, placental insufficiency) |
Vascular | Hypoxic-ischemic lesions |
Infectious | Transplacental infections of the central nervous system STORCH infections; syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, HIV other viruses |
Post-partum | |
Brain vascular and non-vascular injuries Meningitis Encephalitis Congenital encephalitis due to HIV Cupper intoxication Chronic renal failure | |