Infant’s skull designed for growing brain
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a question I have never seen in your column. Twenty-five years ago, my grandson was born with closure of the skull. They operated on him to let the skull grow. He saw a doctor regularly until he was 5 years old. The doctor remarked that the boy had developed a good facial shape.
I often have wondered why this happened. His mother, my daughter-in-law, was adopted and does not know her family medical history.
Did this result from a vitamin deficiency during pregnancy? A difficult labor? A heredity thing? And how is his future, in terms of having his own children? — D.V.
ANSWER: A newborn’s brain must have room to grow. If the skull encased it in a rigid, solid structure, it couldn’t enlarge. Nature devised a way that permits brain growth by creating soft spots in the skull (the anterior and posterior fontanels) and sutures between the bones of the skull. Sutures are gaps that are eventually filled in with bone, but not until the brain has developed.
Your grandson was born with a skull with one or more of those sutures closed. The condition is called craniosynostosis. It happens in about one out of every 2,000 births. Not only does premature suture closure affect brain development, but it often leads to a misshapen head. When the main, central suture is closed, the skull becomes narrow and pointed, like a tower.
Surgeons can create sutures so brain growth occurs normally and skull deformities are prevented.
What causes this? In most cases — 80 percent — it’s something that just happens without an identifiable cause. In the rest, it has to do with genes, and there are usually other genetic problems associated with it. It is neither due to a vitamin deficiency nor to a difficult labor.
Your grandson sounds like his case was one where genetics are not involved. All turned out well with him. His future is bright. His own children should not be affected.
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband has some kind of sleep disorder. He doesn’t believe he has a problem. I know about restless leg syndrome, but he has something beyond that. About four nights a week, his legs kick all over, and he throws his body in every direction. The bed bounces like a trampoline. In one month, he made large holes in two quality flannel sheets. Several times, he has hit me across the face. What is this problem? — M.L.
ANSWER: You describe periodic limb movements of sleep, PLMS, which used to be called nocturnal myoclonus. Most of the time, only the legs are involved. The toes, ankles, knees and hips involuntarily bend and straighten during sleep. The movements happen every 20 to 40 seconds, and each episode lasts from a few minutes to hours.
Restless leg syndrome is a crawling sensation beneath the skin of the legs. The person has to get up and walk around to put an end to the annoying sensations. Sometimes it is associated with iron deficiency, and sometimes restless leg patients also experience periodic limb movements. Pramipexole or ropinirole treat both conditions. Your husband should see a doctor.
The booklet on restless leg syndrome and nighttime leg cramps explains these conditions and their treatments. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 306, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address.
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is distilled water bad for drinking? Can you chew too much gum? My husband chews about four pieces every day. — P.M.
ANSWER: Distilling water involves boiling water and condensing the water vapor by cooling it. Components dissolved in the water are left behind. You can drink distilled water. You will miss out on the minerals contained in most water and on fluoride added to city water, but you can get these elements in other ways. If you chew too much sugar-containing gum, you promote cavities. Too much sugarless gum can cause diarrhea. Four sticks are not too much.
Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.