Doctors seek to explain deformities in 22 babies

DOCTORS are trying to discover why 22 babies in a small rural area have a rare and potentially fatal skull deformity.

The condition, known as cranio- synostosis, has claimed the lives of two babies and been diagnosed in 20 others in an area between York and Selby, North Yorkshire.

The unprecedented number of cases has been found in the last 30 months and experts are looking at possible links with pesticides, pollution or a genetic fault.

Dr Philip Kirby, the senior registrar for the North Yorkshire Health Authority, is trying to find out whether doctors have experienced similar clusters of cases elsewhere. 'The cases represent an unusually high rate of more than 1 in 400 births,' he said.

Reported cases from around the world vary between one in 1,000 and one in 4,000 births. In Britain, there are usually about 18 cases a year.

The condition is noticed at birth or becomes apparent in the first few months of life. It results from two or more bones of the baby's skull fusing together too early. Often the problem is cosmetic and is treated by an operation to release the skull bones.

About half the babies in the York cluster have needed surgery. One of those died because of complications during surgery and the other from the condition directly.

Dr Jon Fear, a consultant to North Yorkshire Public Health Authority, said: 'It's an unexplained problem which is a concern.' He said the cases were not concentrated in a particular village, but about 20 per cent were due to genetic family links and nobody knew the cause of the rest.