Cat's cry
Cat's cry: Excerpt from Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)
Occurring during infancy, this mewing, kittenlike sound is the primary indicator of cri du chat (also known as cat’s cry) syndrome. This syndrome affects about 1 in 50,000 neonates and causes profound mental retardation and failure to thrive. Most of those affected can have a normal life span, although a small number have serious organ defects and other life-threatening medical conditions.
The chromosomal defect responsible for this disorder (deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5) usually appears spontaneously but may be inherited from a carrier parent. The characteristic cry is thought to result from abnormal laryngeal development.
Gender Cue: Cri du chat syndrome is more common in females than males.
Emergency interventions
Suspect cri du chat syndrome if you detect cat’s cry in a neonate. Be alert for signs of respiratory distress, such as nasal flaring; irregular, shallow respirations; cyanosis; and a respiratory rate over 60 breaths/minute. Be prepared to suction the neonate and to administer warmed oxygen. Keep emergency resuscitation equipment nearby because bradycardia may develop.
History and physical examination
Perform a physical examination, and note any abnormalities. If you detect cat’s cry in an older infant, ask the parents when it developed. Sudden onset of an abnormal cry in an infant with a previously normal, vigorous cry suggests other disorders. (See “Cry, high-pitched,” page 218.)
Medical causes
Cri du chat syndrome
A kittenlike cry begins at birth or shortly thereafter in this disorder. It’s accompanied by profound mental retardation, microcephaly, low birth weight, hypotonia, failure to thrive, and feeding difficulties. Typically, the infant displays a round face with wide-set eyes; strabismus; a broad-based nose with oblique or down-sloping epicanthal folds; abnormally shaped, low-set ears; and an unusually small jaw. He may also have a short neck, webbed fingers, and a simian crease. Other abnormalities may include heart defects and GI abnormalities.
Special considerations
Connect the infant to an apnea monitor, and check for signs of respiratory distress. Keep suction equipment and warmed oxygen available. Obtain a blood sample for chromosomal analysis. Prepare the infant for a computed tomography scan to rule out other causes of microcephaly and for an ear, nose, and throat examination to evaluate vocal cords.
Because the infant with cri du chat is usually a poor eater, monitor intake, output, and weight. Instruct the parents to offer the child frequent small feedings. Prepare the parents to work long term with a team of specialists in genetics, neurology, cardiology, and speech and language. Have a counselor or support group available for the parents and family.
Book Source Details
- Book Title: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)
- Author(s): Springhouse
- Year of Publication: 2006
- Copyright Details: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), Copyright © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
More About Cri-du-chat syndrome
More Medical Textbooks Online about Cri-du-chat syndrome
Review other book chapters online related to Cri-du-chat syndrome:
Medical Books Excerpts
- Cat's cry
- "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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- Cat's cry
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
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- Cat's cry
- "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
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- Crying
- "The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult" (2008)
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Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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Crying and Irritability (The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics)
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