A neurosurgeon at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, Dr Zayum Loda’am, has outlined key management options for hydrocephalus.
He urged parents to seek early diagnosis and adhere to follow-up care to improve treatment outcomes.
Speaking in an interview with reporters on Friday in Abuja, Loda’am said that although hydrocephalus could be successfully managed, early intervention remained critical to preventing lifelong complications.
He described hydrocephalus as the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain’s ventricular system due to obstruction, excessive production or inadequate absorption of the fluid.
According to him, surgery remains the primary treatment, with shunting procedures used to divert excess fluid from the brain, while medications are mainly prescribed to relieve symptoms and manage underlying conditions.
The neurosurgeon said treatment outcomes depended on the patient’s age, the underlying cause of the condition and the procedure performed, adding that shunting procedures generally recorded success rates of more than 80 per cent.
Loda’am, however, noted that successful surgery did not eliminate the need for continued medical follow-up and close monitoring by healthcare professionals.
“Parents should closely monitor their children after treatment and keep all follow-up appointments.
“They should promptly report any changes rather than assume everything is normal,” he said.
He explained that in newborns and infants, regular measurement of the occipitofrontal circumference (head circumference) was important because abnormal growth could indicate persistent or recurrent hydrocephalus.
According to him, diagnosis involves medical history evaluation, physical examination and imaging techniques such as transfontanelle ultrasound scans, brain CT scans and brain MRI.
Loda’am said treatment was generally affordable in centres where government or non-governmental organisations provided subsidies, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) might partly or fully cover eligible patients.
He added that neurosurgical expertise for the management of hydrocephalus was available in most tertiary health institutions across the country.
The specialist acknowledged that families often faced financial, emotional and social burdens, particularly when caring for children with special needs, while affected children could experience social and physical challenges.
He also warned that treatment failure could occur in some cases, emphasising that parents should remain alert for warning signs such as persistent headaches, vomiting, seizures, vision problems or abnormal head enlargement and seek immediate medical attention.
Loda’am urged parents not to delay seeking specialised care, saying timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment and regular follow-up remained the best approach to ensuring favourable outcomes for people living with hydrocephalus.
