Early detection vital for preventing disease

The Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in South Africa believes these conditions are an important field of research.

Experts say antenatal care is important to preventing many of these medical conditions because they can be detected and altered prior to giving birth.

One of these disabling conditions is hydrocephalus, which occurs in about 80% of children with spina bifida or split spine.

Hydrocephalus, also known as water on the brain, is a condition that results from the abnormal accumulation of spinal fluid within ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. It causes the head to enlarge excessively.

According to National Health Laboratory Service genetic counsellor Merlyn Glass, the obstruction of fluid in the spine (spina bifida) causes the fluid to accumulate in the brain.

"But you can develop hydrocephalus without having spina bifida. Many of these cases occur during pregnancy. It is important to test for these conditions prior to giving birth if there is a family history," Glass says.

She says hydrocephalus is likely to develop during pregnancy, not during the birth process.

According to Glass, hydrocephalus is irreversible, and only the ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VP shunt) surgery is the alternative to manage it.

In this surgical operation, a small hole is drilled in the skull and a small thin tube passed into a ventricle of the brain. The tube is then placed under the skin behind the ear and moved down the neck to the abdomen.

"The person with a VP shunt will have to live with it for the rest of their lives," Glass says.

"But many children who are treated early grow to live normal lives despite the challenges."

Source: Sowetan