MORE ABOUT SIMARIA’S ILLNESS

Meningoencephalocele is a condition in which a sac of fluid, brain tissue and the brain’s surrounding membranes protrude through a defect in the skull.

The cause is unknown but may be linked to exposure to toxins during pregnancy and to a deficiency in folic acid, which is essential to the healthy growth of a fetus.

Treatment depends on the size, location and severity of the meningoencephalocele but usually involves surgery.

Sufferers may have reduced intelligence after the procedure. SOURCE: GENETIC AND RARE DISEASES INFORMATION CENTRE