Get to know Moebius Syndrome

Hello Hermina Friends, has anyone ever found a child or someone who has no expression, doesn't smile, doesn't look sad or angry. This is often referred to as Moebius syndrome, which is a congenital disorder characterized by weakness or paralysis of the facial nerves that control facial expressions, eye movements, and the ability to speak, chew, and swallow. This congenital neurological disorder is rare. Moebius syndrome or Moebius syndrome can be detected from birth. The exact cause of Moebius syndrome is not yet known. However, genetic and environmental factors are thought to influence the occurrence of this condition.

 

Symptom

The following are some signs and symptoms that can be experienced by sufferers of Moebius syndrome:

• weakness or complete paralysis of the facial muscles
• difficulty swallowing, feeding, and speaking
• Lots of saliva
• difficulty showing facial expressions
• Small jaw and chin shape and size (micrognathia)
• Small mouth size (microstomia)
• Cleft lip
• Abnormalities of the tongue and teeth
• Crossed eyes
• Fingers that are stuck together or syndactyly
• Impaired vision and hearing
• Developmental disorders
• Weak body muscles, Deformities of the feet and hands, such as clubfoot

 

Cause

The cause of Moebius syndrome is not known with certainty. Most cases of Moebius syndrome occur randomly and can happen to anyone. Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that can occur in 1 in 50,000 or 1 in 500,000 births. Moebius syndrome results from underdeveloped or under-developed cranial nerves VI and VII. In a minority of cases, underdevelopment of the XII cranial nerve can also accompany this condition. Researchers suspect that errors or failures in cranial nerve development occur due to disruption of blood flow to the fetal brainstem during development. Even though it occurs randomly, researchers suspect that there are several factors and conditions that can increase the risk of Moebius syndrome, namely:

1. Genetic abnormalities, especially on chromosomes 3, 10, and 13.

2. Medical conditions during fetal development, such as hypoxia and ischemia.

3. Use of cocaine during pregnancy

 

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Moebius syndrome. Supportive and symptom-based care can be given to ensure adequate nutrition; infants may require special feeding tubes or bottles. Surgery can be performed to treat abnormalities of the limbs and jaws as well as crossed eyes. Therapy for motor skills and coordination as well as speech and eating control is often the result of speech and physical therapy. For some people, reconstructive plastic surgery may be beneficial. To allow for the limited ability to smile, nerve and muscle transfers to the corners of the lips can be performed.

 

So, if any of Hermina's family or friends experience symptoms that lead to Moebius syndrome, take them immediately to Hermina Hospital so they can be examined and given proper treatment by a doctor trusted by Hermina Friends.