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Living with Harrod syndrome

A rare syndrome with intellectual disability, distinct facial features, long fingers, and differences in the genitals.

Understanding Harrod syndrome

Harrod syndrome is a rare syndrome with intellectual disability, facial differences, long slender fingers, and failure to thrive.

Facial features include a highly arched palate, pointed chin, small mouth, closely spaced eyes, a long nose, and large protruding ears. Genital differences include undescended testes and hypospadias. It is noticed in the newborn period or infancy.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Intellectual disability
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Poor weight gain (failure to thrive)
  • High palate
  • Cataract
  • Very flexible joints

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, eye disease specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing find the cause?
Should the eyes and teeth be checked regularly?
What supports can help with feeding and development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant

Changes in genes cause this condition. GARD does not name the gene or describe how it is inherited.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: cranio-facio-digito-genital syndrome; craniofacial digital and genital anomalies syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Harrod syndromeGARD ID 2601 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Harrod syndrome.

Explore the Harrod syndrome blog

Explore research for Harrod syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Harrod syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Harrod syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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