Hydrocephalus is treated surgically either by draining the excessive fluids into the abdomen by placing a special tube called a drain or a shunt. It is also possible to create a natural by-pass, without using a shunt using a process called endoscopic surgery.

These procedures are done in CURE Hospital in Mbale distric. Both spina bifida (Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord) and hydrocephalus require life long care and surgical intervention is only the first step.

Adequate surgery is the start of a broader package of total multidisciplinary care, engaging other professionals, parents and the child itself.

With proper support, most children and adults can learn to overcome problems, gain confidence in them selves and go on to live full and independent lives.

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Prevention of further damage to bladder and kidneys can be achieved through routine catheterization to fully empty the patient’s bladder. This procedure called Clean intermittent Catheterization [CIC] can be taught to children from four or five years of age and to parents. A tube is inserted through the patient’s vagina or penis up to the bladder to draw out the urine.

With the CIC knowledge and equipments, spina bifida (Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord) patients can become dry and infection free, thus allowing for greater inclusion in everyday life.

In addition, patients with paralysis need special care to prevent secondary impairments and complications such as pressure sores. They need to regularly change their sitting positions, use good seat cushions and braces and shoes that fit properly and are checked on a regular basis.

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The post How to manage spina bifida? first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Spina bifida is one of the most common congenital birth defects, affecting one in every 1000 live births globally according to revelations by Dr Michael Muhumuza, the Acting Head of the Neurosurgical Unit at Mulago Hospital.

This condition is common in low income countries due to their limited or lack of consumption of foods with folic acid by pregnant women.

The spina bifida is caused by a fault in the development of the central nervous system in the first 25 days of a pregnancy.

The spinal cord and vertebrae do not form completely and the neural tube fails to develop normally. Because of these defects, people born with spina bifida usually have some degree of paralysis which affects their mobility as well as their bowel and bladder control.

Infants born with spina bifida -need surgical closure of the spine, and rehabilitation services of physiotherapists, continence nurses, and occupational therapists to manage the effects of the paralysis such as difficulties in walking and incontinence. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord. It can be like a sac of water at any point on the back of the baby or an open sore. In severe cases, it can make walking or daily activities hard to do without help. Many people with it depend on assistive devices such as wheel chairs, walking sticks and calipers.

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In our earlier news report we told you that osteoporosis is one of the body disorders. It is caused by: poor diet, inactivity, hormones, long term use of certain medications, smoking, hormone deficiencies and imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, lack of sun exposure, eating disorder, prolonged stress, toxic metals, medical conditions like diabetes, kidney and liver disease, heredity, and acidic pH balance.

However, in this report, our major focus is on the recommended food for osteoporosis. Eat foods that are high in calcium and the other nutrients needed for its assimilations e.g sea vegetables, green leafy vegetables, soybeans, nuts and molasses.

Green vegetables such as collard greens, kale, romaine, lettuce and others that is important for their vitamin K content.

Vitamin K1 is a form of vitamin K found in plants that are important for bone formation. Fermented soy products eg tofu is also good for bones. Essential fatty acids found in walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds and fish are important for healthy bones.

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 Elderly people lose the sensation of thirst or may limit their fluid intake in order to minimize trips to the toilets as a result of mobility problems.

This can lead to insufficient fluid intake and hence dehydration, which unfortunately is associated with irritability, headaches and constipation etc.

Six to eight glasses of fluids, ranging from water, juice and milk are recommended per day. It is good to consume milk as a great way to increase fluid intake and at the same time providing range of beneficial nutrients.

This can be helpful, especially to the elderly who find it difficult to eat enough food to meet their nutritional requirements. So what to eat in your late years: Calcium, during old age, the bones are brittle and prone to fractures. So an old person should take foods that are rich in calcium (such as milk, yoghurt, fish and fruits) in order to strengthen his or her bones. This is because until the age of 30-35 the human body stores calcium in the bones. However after that age bracket when the body tries to remodel bones, its only source of calcium is ingested calcium. Therefore when one doesn’t eat enough calcium during old age, the body has nothing to use.

Also not that calcium deficiency leads to osteoporosis, increasing the risk of fractures e.g. in the hips, spine, wrist and pelvis. Its also recommended to add vitamin D to the calcium foods because vitamin D helps the calcium to become more easily absorbed in the blood stream and bones.

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Causes of cord accidents or obstructed labour that is to say the baby gets stuck on its way either because it is too big or the mother’s bones are too narrow.

There is also umbilical cord prolapse-this is when part of the cord drops out of the birth canal especially when ‘waters’ break through, and knotting of the umbilical cord.

Knotting of the umbilical cord is fairly common in low developing countries like Uganda and happens in early pregnancy when the foetus has a lot of room to move around in the amniotic sac!

The post Causes of umbilical cord accidents first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

While the problems of the foot are the most frequent reason for hospitalisation among patients with diabetes, high blood sugar in diabetes puts stimulates certain cells which eat up the bones. The cells that eat up the bones weaken the bones making them soft and pudgy.

Foot ulcers if unattended to well can act as entry point for the bacteria that may lead one to have his or her legs cut off. Other causes of amputation are accidents and cancers.

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