Experts root for early treatment for children with hydrocephalus

Experts have urged parents to embrace early treatment for children born with Spina bifida and hydrocephalus conditions.

Mr Tim Erickson, the Executive Director of Cure Uganda in Mbale City, said there is a need to sensitize communities because when children are operated on as early as one to three months, they will be able to live a normal life. 

He said in Uganda, it is estimated that between 5,000 to 7,000 children are born with both spina bifida and hydrocephalus conditions per year but only 20 percent of these are able to access treatment. 

He revealed that four neurosurgeons at the facility carried out 1,800 operations last year. 

Speaking during the closure of the Neurosurgery Week in Mbale on Friday, which was supported by Rotary Club of Kampala Muyenga Breeze, Mr Erickson said a big number of the children with these conditions have little access to care.  

He said most of these children live for one to two years and die if they are not operated on.  

More than 50 children underwent operation during the week, including Patience Apio (a minor). 

Her mother, Ms Deborah Kana, was excited about the operation.   

Ms Kana told this publication that she realised that her baby’s head was expanding abnormally at two months. Also, the baby was always crying.
A friend advised her to visit Cure Hospital Mbale where the baby was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and underwent a successful operation during the Neurosurgery Week. 
“I am seeing a lot of changes, she is now strong and not crying like she used to. She is very fine.” Ms Kana, who hails from Moyo District said at the weekend.
Spina bifida is a congenital condition that affects a developing embryo when it is 21 days old while hydrocephalus is an abnormal increase of water in the brain, causing an abnormally big head in young children.

 Signs and symptoms

Mr  Erickson explained that for hydrocephalus, the child’s head increases in size, they vomit, lose weight, restless and cry frequently due to pain.

He noted that such signs can be identified as early as at birth and operation can be done with immediate effect.
At the same event, Rotary Club of Kampala Muyenga Breeze supported the hospital with Shs20m to sponsor life-saving neurosurgery for vulnerable children receiving surgery during the Rotary Neurosurgery Week.
Ms Cynthia Baitwa, the president Rotary Club of Kampala Muyenga Breeze, said: “The hospital has grown, they had only four ICU beds, expanded them to 18 beds but still that is a small number compared to the database of children they have in the system.”