86% of children with neural tube defects will develop hydrocephalus. This condition often leads to numerous complications and mental retardation if treatment is delayed. However, it can be prevented and treated if the “golden time” is utilized…
Numerous Complications
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| Patient On Vinh Hang (7 years old, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City) recently underwent surgery to place a shunt on May 29 at Children’s Hospital 1 (Photo: L.TH.H) |
On May 31 at Children’s Hospital 1, Nguyen Thi Bo Bo, the mother of On Vinh Hang (7 years old, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), reported that when Hang was two months old, his head began to swell. She took him to Cho Ray Hospital for examination.
Doctors informed her that Hang needed to be hospitalized for surgery, which would cost over 20 million VND. Due to financial difficulties, she had to take her child home. It was not until Hang was 17 months old that he was able to undergo free surgery through a foreign charity at Children’s Hospital 1.
After the surgery, Hang showed good physical and mental development; he was lively and spoke like a normal child. However, due to the delay in surgery, Hang’s head remained very large, and he was unable to walk or sit independently. On May 26, 2006, he was readmitted for surgery because the shunt from his brain to his abdomen had broken and needed to be replaced.
Dr. Nguyen Duc Tuan from the orthopedic department at Children’s Hospital 1 stated that hydrocephalus is one of the neural tube defects, primarily caused by congenital factors.
Neural tube defects are among the severe malformations that leave many complications affecting the quality of life for children later on. Each year, Children’s Hospital 1 admits approximately 52 cases, with hydrocephalus accounting for 86% of them, while the remainder involves conditions such as spinal cord hernias and meningocele…
The “Golden Time”: Under 6 Months Old
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Dr. Vu Thi Nhung, director of Hung Vuong Hospital, stated that the national program from the Ministry of Health currently only recommends supplementing iron for pregnant women, without mentioning folic acid supplementation. However, iron supplements combined with folic acid are available on the market. If pregnant women visit Hung Vuong Hospital for their first trimester check-ups, they will be guided by doctors to take iron supplements combined with folic acid to prevent congenital neural tube defects. |
According to Dr. Duc Tuan, with hydrocephalus, if children do not undergo surgery early, the brain tissue is compressed, leading to severe health complications such as blindness, deafness, paralysis of the limbs, and inability to speak.
The optimal age for surgery, known as the “golden time,” is under six months old. If operated on early, the results are often very good; the child’s head will not become enlarged due to fluid accumulation, and their cognitive development will progress normally.
However, currently, most children with hydrocephalus arrive at the hospital late for treatment. Some may already be beyond the surgical indication, leaving them with complications that are difficult to treat. The reasons for delayed treatment often stem from economic circumstances or a lack of understanding of the condition by parents, who may notice the child has a larger head but sees them eating and playing normally, thus not paying attention. It is only when they observe symptoms like vomiting or dull eyes that they take the child to the hospital.
How can you tell if a child has hydrocephalus? Dr. Duc Tuan explains that with congenital hydrocephalus, current ultrasound techniques can detect it early while the child is still in the womb. Additionally, families should note that children with hydrocephalus often have mothers who experienced polyhydramnios during pregnancy. Therefore, after birth, families should take their children for early check-ups to ensure prompt treatment.
“Neural tube defects can be prevented if mothers take folic acid supplements,” Dr. Duc Tuan remarked. He emphasized that folic acid aids in the proper formation of the neural tube.
Besides its role in preventing neural tube defects, folic acid is also crucial for increasing red blood cells. If pregnant women consume it correctly, it can help increase the baby’s birth weight.
Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9) is part of the B vitamin group and is essential for the proper closure of the neural tube during fetal development. However, folic acid only plays a role at a specific time.
Therefore, healthcare providers often recommend that married women take folic acid three months before planning to conceive and during the first three months of pregnancy. Folic acid is also abundant in various grains and dark green vegetables. If pregnant women consume sufficient amounts of these foods, additional folic acid supplementation may not be necessary.
LE THANH HA
