A disorder that is caused by deletion of genetic material on the short arm of the fifth chromosome and characterized by a distinctive high, shrill cry of young children with the syndrome that sounds like the mew of a kitten. The cry is caused by abnormal larynx development, which becomes normal within a few weeks of birth. Infants with cri du chat may have feeding problems; low birth weight; failure to thrive; respiratory problems; cognitive, speech and motor delays; and distinctive abnormalities of the head and face. Some people with this disorder have a shortened lifespan, but most have a normal life expectancy.
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