By Safia Abdulrahman
A Neurosurgeon at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, Dr Zayum Loda’am, has urged parents to seek early diagnosis and treatment for hydrocephalus, warning that delayed intervention could cause permanent disability or death.
Loda’am said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain’s ventricular system due to obstruction, overproduction or inadequate absorption.
He explained that the condition was broadly classified into congenital and acquired hydrocephalus, noting that children might develop either form, while hydrocephalus in adults was usually acquired and often associated with underlying conditions.
According to him, congenital causes include aqueductal stenosis and brain tumours, while acquired causes include meningitis complications, traumatic brain injuries, bleeding, blood clots within the brain, tumours and normal pressure hydrocephalus.
He said newborns commonly present with an abnormally enlarged head, difficulty looking upward and poor growth, while older children and adults may experience persistent headaches, early morning vomiting, seizures and impaired vision.
The neurosurgeon said some cases could be prevented through prompt treatment of meningitis, safe delivery practices to prevent birth-related injuries and the use of folic acid before conception to reduce congenital abnormalities.
“Children diagnosed and treated early often go on to live normal lives, unlike those whose diagnosis and treatment are delayed,” he said, emphasising that awareness and prompt intervention remained critical.
“The mainstay of treatment is surgery through diversion or shunting of the excess fluid, alongside treatment of the underlying cause. Although medications may help relieve symptoms, they do not replace surgical intervention,” he said.
Loda’am said shunt procedures recorded success rates of more than 80 per cent in many cases, although maintaining shunt function and preventing infections remained major challenges requiring regular medical follow-up.
He warned that delaying treatment could result in intellectual disability, epilepsy, blindness, as well as physical and psychological complications, adding that such outcomes could significantly affect patients and families.
The specialist also dismissed misconceptions linking hydrocephalus to witchcraft or evil spirits, saying such beliefs had contributed to discrimination, stigma and the abandonment of affected children in communities.
He urged parents to seek immediate medical attention whenever they noticed an unusually enlarged head or other warning signs, emphasising that early diagnosis, prompt treatment and timely referral improved outcomes.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru