BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCri du chat syndromeChromosome 5p deletion syndrome; 5p minus syndrome; Cat cry syndromeCri du chat syndrome is a group of symptoms that result from missing a piece of chromosome number 5. The syndrome's name is based on the infant's cry, which is high-pitched and sounds like a cat.ChromosomeChromosomes are structures found in the center (nucleus) of cells that carry long pieces of DNA. DNA is the material that holds genes. It is the bu...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cri du chat syndrome is rare. It is caused by a missing piece of chromosome 5.Most cases are believed to occur during the development of the egg or sperm. A small number of cases occur when a parent passes a different, rearranged form of the chromosome to their child. Symptoms Symptoms include:Cry that is high-pitched and may sound like a cat Downward slant to the eyes Epicanthal folds, an extra fold of skin over the inner corner of the eye Epicanthal foldsAn epicanthal fold is skin of the upper eyelid that covers the inner corner of the eye. The fold runs from nose to the inner side of the eyebrow....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low birth weight and slow growth Low-set or abnormally shaped ears Low-set or abnormally shaped earsLow-set ears and pinna abnormalities refer to an abnormal shape or position of the outer ear (pinna or auricle).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss Heart defects Intellectual disability Intellectual disabilityIntellectual disability is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average intellectual function and a lack of skills necessary for d...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial webbing or fusing of fingers or toes Curvature of the spine (scoliosis) Single line in the palm of the hand Skin tags just in front of the ear Slow or incomplete development of motor skills Small head (microcephaly) MicrocephalyMicrocephaly is a condition in which a person's head size is much smaller than that of others of the same age and sex. Head size is measured as the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Small jaw (micrognathia) MicrognathiaMicrognathia is a term for a lower jaw that is smaller than normal.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Wide-set eyes Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show:Inguinal hernia Inguinal herniaA hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the be...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Diastasis recti (separation of the muscles in the belly area) Diastasis rectiDiastasis recti is a separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle. This muscle covers the front surface of the belly ar...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low muscle tone Characteristic facial featuresGenetic tests can show a missing part of chromosome 5. Skull x-ray may reveal any problems with the shape of the base of the skull. Treatment There is no specific treatment. Your provider will suggest ways to treat or manage the symptoms.Parents of a child with this syndrome should have genetic counseling and testing to determine if one parent has a change in chromosome 5. Support Groups More information and support for people with Cri du chat syndrome and their families can be found at:5P- Society -- fivepminus.org Outlook (Prognosis) Intellectual disability is common. One half of children with this syndrome learn enough verbal skills to communicate. The cat-like cry becomes less noticeable over time. Possible Complications Complications depend on the amount of intellectual disability and physical problems. Symptoms may affect the person's ability to care for themselves. When to Contact a Medical Professional This syndrome is most often diagnosed at birth. Your provider will discuss your baby's symptoms with you. It is important to continue regular visits with the child's providers after leaving the hospital.Genetic counseling and testing is recommended for all people with a family history of this syndrome. Prevention There is no known prevention. Couples with a family history of this syndrome who wish to become pregnant may consider genetic counseling.Open ReferencesReferencesBacino CA, Lee B. Cytogenetics. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98.Madan-Khetarpal S, Arnold G, Ortiz D. Genetic disorders and dysmorphic conditions. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 1.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Chromosome(Special Topic) Review Date: 9/18/2023 Reviewed By: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Cri du chat syndromeChromosome 5p deletion syndrome; 5p minus syndrome; Cat cry syndromeCri du chat syndrome is a group of symptoms that result from missing a piece of chromosome number 5. The syndrome's name is based on the infant's cry, which is high-pitched and sounds like a cat.ChromosomeChromosomes are structures found in the center (nucleus) of cells that carry long pieces of DNA. DNA is the material that holds genes. It is the bu...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cri du chat syndrome is rare. It is caused by a missing piece of chromosome 5.Most cases are believed to occur during the development of the egg or sperm. A small number of cases occur when a parent passes a different, rearranged form of the chromosome to their child. Symptoms Symptoms include:Cry that is high-pitched and may sound like a cat Downward slant to the eyes Epicanthal folds, an extra fold of skin over the inner corner of the eye Epicanthal foldsAn epicanthal fold is skin of the upper eyelid that covers the inner corner of the eye. The fold runs from nose to the inner side of the eyebrow....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low birth weight and slow growth Low-set or abnormally shaped ears Low-set or abnormally shaped earsLow-set ears and pinna abnormalities refer to an abnormal shape or position of the outer ear (pinna or auricle).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hearing loss Heart defects Intellectual disability Intellectual disabilityIntellectual disability is a condition diagnosed before age 18 that includes below-average intellectual function and a lack of skills necessary for d...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial webbing or fusing of fingers or toes Curvature of the spine (scoliosis) Single line in the palm of the hand Skin tags just in front of the ear Slow or incomplete development of motor skills Small head (microcephaly) MicrocephalyMicrocephaly is a condition in which a person's head size is much smaller than that of others of the same age and sex. Head size is measured as the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Small jaw (micrognathia) MicrognathiaMicrognathia is a term for a lower jaw that is smaller than normal.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Wide-set eyes Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show:Inguinal hernia Inguinal herniaA hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the be...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Diastasis recti (separation of the muscles in the belly area) Diastasis rectiDiastasis recti is a separation between the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle. This muscle covers the front surface of the belly ar...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low muscle tone Characteristic facial featuresGenetic tests can show a missing part of chromosome 5. Skull x-ray may reveal any problems with the shape of the base of the skull. Treatment There is no specific treatment. Your provider will suggest ways to treat or manage the symptoms.Parents of a child with this syndrome should have genetic counseling and testing to determine if one parent has a change in chromosome 5. Support Groups More information and support for people with Cri du chat syndrome and their families can be found at:5P- Society -- fivepminus.org Outlook (Prognosis) Intellectual disability is common. One half of children with this syndrome learn enough verbal skills to communicate. The cat-like cry becomes less noticeable over time. Possible Complications Complications depend on the amount of intellectual disability and physical problems. Symptoms may affect the person's ability to care for themselves. When to Contact a Medical Professional This syndrome is most often diagnosed at birth. Your provider will discuss your baby's symptoms with you. It is important to continue regular visits with the child's providers after leaving the hospital.Genetic counseling and testing is recommended for all people with a family history of this syndrome. Prevention There is no known prevention. Couples with a family history of this syndrome who wish to become pregnant may consider genetic counseling.Open ReferencesReferencesBacino CA, Lee B. Cytogenetics. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98.Madan-Khetarpal S, Arnold G, Ortiz D. Genetic disorders and dysmorphic conditions. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 1.