Macrocephaly in children with developmental disabilities.
In a community-based study of 4,309 children with neurodevelopmental disabilities who were referred to the Institute for Child Development, Tel Aviv, Israel, 62 (1.4%) had macrocephaly (head circumference above the ninety-eighth percentile for age), of whom 42 (1%) had macrocephaly not associated with hydrocephalus. With the exception of neonatal respiratory distress the incidence of perinatal complications was not different from that in other children referred to the Institute for Child Development. In children with developmental disabilities, macrocephaly was a significant risk factor for febrile seizures (odds ratio = 3.1, P < 0.001) and epilepsy (odds ratio = 7.7, P < 0.001), but not for mental retardation (odds ratio = 1.1, P = 0.78) or cerebral palsy (odds ratio = 1.3, P = 0.67). Children with macrocephaly had a high rate of comorbid diagnosis. We conclude that in children with developmental disabilities the presence of macrocephaly even when not associated with hydrocephalus is associated with an increased risk of seizures.
Nevo
Yoram
Y
Institute for Child Development and The Pediatric Neurology Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Kramer
Uri
U
Shinnar
Shlomo
S
Leitner
Yael
Y
Fattal-Valevski
Aviva
A
Villa
Yael
Y
Harel
Shaul
S
D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006257:Head / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000453:epidemiology