Copper deficiency in children is associated with growth retardation. Zinc deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies can also cause growth retardation.
Endothelin-2 deficiency causes growth retardation in mice.
Zinc
iodine
Exposure to lead can also cause mental retardation.
Overstudy does not cause mental retardation.
In about 35% of cases, the cause of mental retardation cannot be found.
The two conditions are not at all related. Autism does not cause mental retardation.
Hyperthyroidism, whooping cough, chickenpox, measles, and Hib disease (a bacterial infection) may cause mental retardation if they are not treated adequately.
Maternal infections and such illnesses as glandular disorders, rubella, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may cause mental retardation
In 4% of bacterial meningitis cases in children, there is seen to be some mental retardation.
Mental retardation may be caused by an inherited abnormality of the genes, such as fragile X syndrome.
An infection of the membrane covering the brain (meningitis) or an inflammation of the brain itself (encephalitis) cause swelling that in turn may cause brain damage and mental retardation.
The treatment team will depend on the underlying cause of mental retardation. A neurologist, neuropsychologist, child psychiatrist, and/or development pediatrician may be helpful for nearly all cases of mental retardation
Symptoms of mental retardation may appear at birth or later in childhood. Time of onset depends on the suspected cause of the disability.