How does Apert syndrome affect my baby’s body?

How does Apert syndrome affect my baby’s body?

Apert syndrome causes defining physical characteristics as your child develops but it can also affect other organs in your child’s body including:

• Brain: Apert syndrome causes pressure on the brain, which can disrupt how your child learns and thinks (cognitive development). They may face mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.
• Ears: It's common for the sides of your child’s head to be the first to close during development, which could alter how your child’s ears form. This could result in frequent ear infections or hearing loss.
• Eyes: Your child could have vision problems due to their bulging, slanting or wide eyes.
• Lungs: Depending on the severity of your child’s diagnosis, the way that their nose formed could cause breathing problems or sleep apnea, which is the result of blocked airways.
• Skin: Your child’s skin may produce excess oil, which could cause severe acne to develop. They may also sweat more than normal (hyperhidrosis) and have patches of skin with no hair (missing their eyebrows).
• Teeth: Your baby’s teeth could overcrowd their mouth, causing dental problems when their teeth start to form. They could also be missing teeth and have irregular enamel forming on their teeth.