Symptoms of Walker's syndrome in a child appear immediately after birth Photo: Getty
The reasons for the development of Walker's syndrome in children
Medicine does not yet have an exact understanding of the mechanism by which the defect is formed. However, doctors say that the factors that can provoke the pathology are:
- diseases of a viral origin, borne by a woman during the period of gestation. Particularly dangerous are diseases in the first trimester of pregnancy;
- cytomegalovirus;
- rubella;
- diseases associated with the violation of metabolic processes. In particular, diabetes mellitus.
Most often, children with this defect are born towomen suffering from alcohol or drug addiction. As a result of hereditary causes, the pathology develops extremely rarely. If during an ultrasound examination the doctor detects abnormal development of the fetus, the woman will receive a recommendation to terminate the pregnancy.
Symptoms of Walker Syndrome
Abnormal development of the fetal brain is clearly visible induring an ultrasound examination. The defect can be detected as early as the twentieth week. During the examination, the doctor notes typical brain lesions:
- cystic formations located in the cranial fossa;
- the cerebellum is not developed well enough;
- there is a strong expansion of the fourth ventricle.
As the fetus develops, the signs of pathology only intensify. In later stages of pregnancy, the child develops physical development anomalies:
- a cleft in the solid sky and on the lip is formed;
- fusion of fingers and toes is observed;
- incorrect development of the renal system is recorded.
If the child is born, then the symptomspathologies manifest themselves in full. Children are very restless, as they suffer from high intracranial pressure. The child develops hydrocephalus, accompanied by convulsions. The prognosis for the disease is very unfavorable. Half of the babies die during the first year of life. Surviving babies need constant medical supervision. Children lag significantly behind their peers in development, as they have a low, non-correctable level of intelligence. Read more: