Apert syndrome

What causes Apert syndrome?

The precise cause is unknown. Doctors believe it's probably the result of genetic mutations that occur early on in pregnancy. No known food, medication or activity during pregnancy can cause your child to have Apert syndrome.

How common is Apert syndrome?

Apert syndrome occurs is about one in 175,000 births. If one parent has Apert syndrome, there is a 50 percent chance that their child will be born with the disorder.

In addition to the physical characteristics common to the condition, your child may have the following problems:

• slower mental development due to abnormal growth of the skull
• cleft palate
• vision problems caused by imbalance of the eye muscles
• recurrent ear infections, which can cause hearing loss
• difficulty breathing due to small nose and airway passages
• increased perspiration (especially when asleep) due to hyperactive sweat glands
• acne problems, especially during puberty