Orofacial myofunctional and anthropometric characteristics of children with and without microcephaly: a case-control study

TL;DR

This study compares orofacial and anthropometric traits in children with and without Zika-related microcephaly, finding significant differences in swallowing and facial features.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into orofacial myofunctional and anthropometric differences in children with Zika-related microcephaly.

Findings

Children with microcephaly had lower swallowing efficiency scores between 13–18 months.

Significant differences were found in facial, cheek, and stomatognathic function scores between the groups.

Anthropometric measurements showed altered proportions in the upper third of the face and lip features in microcephaly cases.

Abstract

This study aimed to describe and compare morphofunctional orofacial aspects between subjects with and without Zika virus-related microcephaly.

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, case-control study with both qualitative and quantitative components. All subjects were born between 2015 and 2016, during the Zika virus outbreak in the Northeast region of Brazil. A total of 48 children were included: 24 with Zika-related microcephaly (MG) and 24 without the condition (CG). We performed the Preliminary Expanded Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES-E) for all subjects. Orofacial anthropometric measurements were obtained from 36 of the 48 participants, including 18 from the MG and 18 from the CG.

We found lower swallowing efficiency scores in children with microcephaly aged 13–18 months. Significant differences (p<.001) were found between the MG and CG for scores related to the face, cheeks, and total stomatognathic functions. When stratified by age group, differences (p<.001) were found in total scores between MG and CG subjects in the age groups up to 24 months. We found lower scores in the 13–18-month group with microcephaly for swallowing efficiency: 1.3 (SD: .8) versus 5.3 (SD: 1.2); and in the 19–24-month group; for bite: 1 (SD: 0) and 3.9 (SD: .3), and 1.9 (SD: 2.7) and 9.5 (SD: .9); in addition to facial changes: 9.8 (SD: 1.2) and 11.8 (SD: .6). Differences were found in anthropometric orofacial measurements for the upper third of the face (d=-1.215, p<.001) (MG<CG); proportion between the upper third/middle third (d=.463, p=.018) (MG<CG); and upper lip and philtrum (MG>CG) (d=-.679, p<.001).

Subjects with microcephaly had altered orofacial myofunction, especially related to swallowing and chewing difficulties in early ages.

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