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.

ENDS

The post What is spina bifida? first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Having a good diet helps us to prevent spinal bifida. This is the most common of a group of birth defects in Uganda and around the world known as neutral tube defects.

Neural tube defects affect the central nervous system that is the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this defect, according to the experts in World Health Organisation (WHO) is lack of enough folic acid during the process of the baby’s development in the womb.

But folic acids can be obtained from locally available foods and  vegetables such as cabbages, soya, mushrooms, ovacado, fresh bananas, ground nuts,  liver, spinach, doddo, pumpkin leaves and fresh vegetables.

According to medical experts 70% of cases of neural tube defects could be prevented by adequate intake of folic acid immediately before and in early pregnancy.

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