Before you call them alien, evil kids nor bad messengers from another world which they are not but fate made them to be the way they are innocently are due to some biological disorders, Kindly read through another of the causes of Disabilities in newborns.
On this section let me pick HYDROCEPHALUS (One of my Special Angels in ADOCA HOME is challenged with this birth defects, she is 12 years old now, she is living with the disability but she is not an Alien, she is a person with disabilities ).
WHAT IS HYDROCEPHALLY?
Hydrocephalus, means “water in the brain,” (Hydro : Water & Cephalus : Brain) is a condition associated with a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the hollow places in or around the brain” the hollow places are the ventricles. If left untreated, this can lead to brain tissue stretching, significantly affecting the child’s growth and development.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS :
Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in babies and children can include:
fussiness
tiredness
poor appetite
vomiting
eyes that stay looking down
slowed development.
Kindly note that a child can be born with hydrocephalus called CONGENITAL HYDROCEPHALUS or
get it later after birth, this is called ACQUIRED HYDROCEPHALUS.
How Does Hydrocephalus Happen?
Cerebrospinal fluid is saltwater that’s made inside the ventricles. It flows around the brain and spinal cord, cushioning them. It also sends nutrients to the brain and takes away waste. Then it’s absorbed into the bloodstream, and new, fresh CSF takes its place.
Hydrocephalus can happen if:
The flow of CSF is blocked which is called OBSTRUCTIVE HYDROCEPHALUS or if not enough CSF is absorbed into the bloodstream which is called COMMUNICATING HYDROCEPHALUS.
CAUSES OF HYDROCEPHALUS
Hydrocephalus is often congenital, meaning babies are born with it, but infants and children can develop it as well. There is no one specific cause of congenital hydrocephalus. However, it may be linked to a genetic defect, or be the result of another disorder such as spina bifida or encephalocele (sac-like protrusions of the brain).
SOME CAUSES ARE VIZ:
Causes of hydrocephalus include:
A) Spina bifida: when a baby’s spinal cord does not fully develop.
B) Aqueductal stenosis: when CSF flow between the ventricles inside the brain is blocked.
C) Infection during pregnancy.
D) Complications of prematurity (being born early)
E) Bleeding in the brain (from a stroke or brain injury)
F) Brain tumor
infection in the brain.
DIAGNOSIS IN PREGNANCY :
Hydrocephalus is typically detected through a prenatal ultrasound between 15 and 35 weeks gestation. Our specialists are able to confirm this diagnosis with a fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam, which provides more detailed images of the brain.
HYDROCEPHALUS MANAGEMENTS AND TREATMENT DURING PREGNANCY:
DURING PREGNANCY: hydrocephalus is usually managed with observation. At this time, there is no fetal treatment for this disorder. If the baby has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, medical team will carefully watch for signs of distress, which may indicate a need for early delivery.
AFTER BIRTH: Hydrocephalus is treated with one of three surgical options:
1) SHUNT: device that allows the pressure in the brain to normalize by draining the fluid into the abdominal cavity, where the fluid can be reabsorbed.
2) ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY (ETV): minimally-invasive procedure that creates an opening in the floor of the third ventricle in the brain, allowing fluid to flow into its normal pathway.
3) COMBINED ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY/CHOROID PLEXUS CAUTERIZATION (ETV/CPC): used as the primary treatment for most infants with hydrocephalus. ETV/CPC is known to reduce the rate of cerebrospinal fluid production and provide a new pathway for the fluid to escape.
IMPACT OF HYDROCEPHALUS ON BABIES:
The impact of hydrocephalus on a newborn is somewhat unpredictable and can vary in severity because it injures the brain. Children with hydrocephalus may have epilepsy, learning disabilities, short-term memory loss, problems with coordination, vision problems, and early onset of puberty.
As a result, children with this condition often need developmental therapy, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy. In milder cases, or instances where treatment was previously possible, a baby with hydrocephalus may develop completely normally.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Your child needs your care and support. Treatment for hydrocephalus is successful in many children but most need more than one surgery and ongoing medical care.
To help your child get the best treatment:
1)Take your child to all doctor visits.
2)Follow all medical recommendations, such as taking prescribed medicines.
If needed, take your child to: 1)early intervention programs
2)physical therapy
3)occupational therapy.
HOW CAN SOCIETY HELP?
Society can help by refraining from calling them disabled (the term is not healing and quite inhumane), Society should realize & accept that these children are not evil but challenged with BIRTH DEFECTS and their parents need to be encouraged not stigmatised.
ROLE OF ADVOCATE :
Having served these Special needs people in ADOCA HOME for a long period of years, I can boldly say they are not evil. This is the reason, I paused herein to put this together and do accept invitations to lecture on DISABILITY PREVENTIONS. Some of the birth defects can be prevented but can not be cured in most cases.
To be continued…
Yours in Service to Humanity,
Rotarian ‘Détòrò Omooba
ADOCA HOME FOR ORPHANS & PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
SUPPORT FOR ADOKA HOME
***WE ARE APPEALING TO SOCIETY TO HELP US BUILD THEIR PERMANENT SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SITE : 1 ACRE @ AWOWO KINGDOM, LAGOS /ABEOKUTA EXPRESSWAY.
CONTACT: +234 810 111 8670
FACEBOOK : ADOCA HOME
IG : @ adocaf
Story Credit: (1) SSM HEALTH and (2) KIDS HEALTH ORG
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
