Childhood Hydrocephalus in Sokoto: Experience with 401 Series

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is a complex and multifactorial neurological disorders. Childhood hydrocephalus like other chronic childhood illness is a major contributor to poor quality of life and huge financial burden to the affected family and nation. Epidemiological factors tend to vary with geographical location. Unlike in developed countries, most data from developing countries showed infection as the most common etiology. This study was conducted to analyze our epidemiological features of childhood hydrocephalus in Sokoto with a review of the literature. AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of causes of hydrocephalus in Sokoto and to determine the short-term outcomes of treatment and compare results with the literatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study with patients’ data from the theatre records, patients’ case notes, and radiological records. Outcomes were based on complications and changes in the occipitofrontal circumferences. Criteria for statistical significant was P < 0.05. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight patients satisfied inclusion criteria. No sex preponderance was found with a mean age of 16.41 months. Maternal illiteracy rate was 60% with 49.3% of the parents at lower socioeconomic class. Infection was the most frequent etiology (45.7%). Myelomeningocele associated hydrocephalus was also common (16.7%). However, post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus was rare (2.9%). Mean preoperative and postoperative occipitofrontal circumferences were 54.22 cm and 47.92 cm, respectively, with P = 0.001. CONCLUSION: Poverty and illiteracy were strongly associated with childhood hydrocephalus in our patients. Infection was predominantly associated with morbidity with large number of patients being lost to follow-up.