Sotos syndrome

Sotos syndrome is a rare genetic disorder marked by excessive physical growth in the first years of life. Growth typically begins to run ahead in infancy and continues into the early teens. Children are often large at birth and tend to be taller, heavier and larger skulled (macrocephaly) than others of their age. Recognised signs, which vary from person to person, include a disproportionately large skull with a slightly protrusive forehead, large hands and feet, a large mandible, widely spaced and downslanting eyes, clumsiness and an awkward gait. Autism, mild intellectual disability, low muscle tone, speech impairment and delayed motor, cognitive and social development may accompany it, and irritability can occur. Most cases arise sporadically, though familial cases are reported, and it resembles Weaver syndrome.