Symptoms of Encephalocele
Some babies with encephaloceles have other problems with their skulls and brains. These accompanying symptoms and conditions include:
- Too much cerebrospinal fluid in parts of their brains (hydrocephalus)
- Very small head (microcephaly)
- Problems with their vision
- Delayed growth and development
- Learning difficulties
- Spasticity or other movement disorders
Usually doctors can see an encephalocele when a baby is born. Sometimes, they may not see a small encephalocele right away. These small encephaloceles are usually located in the area of the baby's nose, forehead and sinuses.
Doctors think the genes a baby inherits might play a role in causing an encephalocele. The condition happens more often in families that have a history of neural tube defects called spina bifida and anencephaly.