Cri-du-chat syndrome

Introduction: Cri-du-chat syndrome

Cri-du-chat syndrome: A rare genetic disorder where a small portion of the short arm (p) of chromosome 5 is missing. The condition is characterized by a high-pitched cry which is similar to a cat's cry. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Cri-du-chat syndrome is available below.

Symptoms of Cri-du-chat syndrome

• Cat-like infant crying
• Cat-like cry in infants
• Abnormal laryngeal development in infants
• Low birth weight
• Severe mental retardation

See full list of 32 symptoms of Cri-du-chat syndrome

Medical Textbooks Online about Cri-du-chat syndrome

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Less Common Symptoms of Cri-du-chat syndrome

• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Myopia
• Optic atrophy
• Preauricular skin tag

See full list of 18 occasional symptoms of Cri-du-chat syndrome

Causes of Cri-du-chat syndrome

Read more about causes of Cri-du-chat syndrome.

Videos for Cri-du-chat syndrome

Patient Surveys for Cri-du-chat syndrome

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results

Statistics for Cri-du-chat syndrome

• Medical statistics for Cri-du-chat syndrome
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Cri-du-chat syndrome
• Death and Mortality statistics for Cri-du-chat syndrome
• Society statistics for Cri-du-chat syndrome

Stories from Users Related to Cri-du-chat syndrome

• Crazy cat
• plz help very scarid (crying)
• Frequent crying
• Finally a diagnosis...M Cat, please read
• son with cri-du-chat syndrome
• My cat diagnosed with fibrosarcoma
• Toxoplasmosis caught from cats - INCORRECT
• I am about to cry here
• del taco food poisioning
• another question for kiera and mommy cat
• for kiera and mom cat
• XY Chromosomes
• sweat smells of cat pee, then later ammonia
• Cat Parasites & Prevention in Haiti??
• for mommy cat

Related forums and stories:

• Rare Diseases (105)
  • Adrenal dysfunction?
  • Hashimoto's, Adrenal Problem, Lyme's or Mercury Poisoning?
  • shy-drager need help please
  • Kearns-Sayre syndrome
  • Adrenal insufficiency or?
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Cri-du-chat syndrome, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Definitions of Cri-du-chat syndrome:

Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5 characterized by a variable clinical picture consisting of severe mental deficiency, growth retardation, multiple abnormalities and a peculiar crying sound resembling that of a suffering kitten (hence the synonym crying cat syndrome or cri du chat syndrome), that disappears within weeks or months after birth. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Cri-du-chat syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Cri-du-chat syndrome, or a subtype of Cri-du-chat syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Cri-du-chat syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet