Thousands of Nigerian children born with hydrocephalusChildren, commonly known as “water on the brain,” are at risk of preventable complications and lifelong disabilities because many are diagnosed late, cannot afford treatment or have limited access to specialized neurosurgical care, a new nationwide study has revealed.
The study, published in Neurosurgical Review, found that despite significant advances in the treatment of childhood hydrocephalus globally, Nigerian children continue to face serious barriers to timely and effective care, including high medical costs, a shortage of neurosurgeons, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and poor long-term follow-up.
The researchers, including Chidera Stanley Anthony, Nwamaka Chidera Bob-Ume, Ikponmwosa Jude Ogieuhi and Victor Oluwatomiwa Ajekiigbe, analyzed 10 hospital-based studies involving 1,127 children treated in tertiary hospitals in various geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
They identified delay in presentation, financial difficulties, inadequate healthcare facilities and unequal access to specialist neurosurgical services as major barriers to successful treatment.
Congenital hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in a baby’s brain before or shortly after birth, was the most common form among babies and young children, according to the review. It was often associated with birth defects, while infections were a more common cause among older children.
Researchers found that many affected children were not taken to the hospital until they were between one and 12 months old. These delays can reduce the chances of early treatment and increase the risk of permanent neurological damage.
The study found that ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt remains the most commonly used surgical treatment for hydrocephalus in Nigeria.
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), a more advanced procedure, is primarily available in a limited number of specialized centers due to inadequate equipment, funding limitations, and a shortage of trained neurosurgeons.
A major concern highlighted by the researchers was the complication rate after surgery. Shunt infections occurred in between 11 and 28 percent of patients in the studies reviewed.
These infections can lead to repeated operations, longer hospital stays and additional financial pressure on already struggling families.
Beyond the medical challenges, the review highlighted the heavy economic burden placed on parents and carers.
Most families continue to pay out of pocket for diagnosis, surgery, and follow-up care, while inadequate health insurance coverage further limits access to treatment.
The researchers also identified limited access to CT and MRI scans, poor referral systems, and sociocultural beliefs that can delay hospital visits as important barriers to timely treatment, and cautioned that many of these barriers are preventable.
The researchers called on governments at all levels to decentralize neurosurgical services, expand health insurance coverage, invest in specialized training and modern diagnostic facilities, and introduce nationwide awareness campaigns to help parents recognize the early signs of hydrocephalus and seek medical care promptly.
Without urgent reforms, they warned, many Nigerian children with hydrocephalus will continue to suffer avoidable complications and lifelong disabilities from a condition that can often be successfully treated if detected early.
WATCH THE BEST VIDEOS FROM Newslodge TV