What is the Difference Between Anencephaly and Microcephaly?

Anencephaly and microcephaly are both cephalic disorders that affect the brain and head of babies, but they differ in their manifestations and severity. The main differences between anencephaly and microcephaly are:

1. Birth defect vs. medical condition: Anencephaly is a birth defect where a baby is born without parts of the brain or skull, while microcephaly is a medical condition where a baby is born with a smaller head or the head stops growing after birth.
2. Developmental problems: In anencephaly, the upper part of the neural tube fails to completely close, resulting in the child being born with missing parts of the brain and skull. In microcephaly, the baby's head is smaller than expected, with the brain often not developing properly.
3. Severity: Anencephaly is a more severe condition than microcephaly. Children born with anencephaly usually die shortly after birth, while babies with microcephaly may experience normal maturing of the face and other parts of the body, but the head remains small.
4. Presence at birth: Microcephaly may or may not be present at birth and can develop within the first few years of life. In contrast, anencephaly is immediately diagnosed upon birth.
5. Frequency: Anencephaly affects about three pregnancies per 10,000, while microcephaly affects 1 pregnancy per 800 to 5,000 in the U.S.

Comparative Table: Anencephaly vs Microcephaly

Here is a table comparing the differences between anencephaly and microcephaly:

Both anencephaly and microcephaly are serious cephalic disorders that affect the structure and function of the human brain and central nervous system. They typically have poor outcomes and are often associated with other birth defects.