The month of September is recognized as Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. Hydrocephalus is a rare brain condition that’s usually found among infants when there is too much fluid in the brain. Right now, the only remedy is surgery. However, one local doctor has made it his mission to find a cure.
Dr. Satish Krishnamurthy has been studying the brain condition at Upstate Medical University for more than 20 years. The condition is a build up of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain’s ventricles, which causes the brain to swell. It’s most common among children during their first two years of life.
What You Need To Know
- Hydrocephalus is a rare brain condition that’s usually found among infants when there is too much fluid in the brain
- There are more than one million people living in the United States living with hydrocephalus, which is mostly common with children
- As research continues, it is hopeful a drug will be made possible within the next three to four years
“It causes huge problems. These ventricles are inside the brain and compresses the brain and causes significant cognitive and physical handicaps,” said Dr. Krisnamurthy.
Right now, surgery is the only option to release this excess fluid from the brain. A shunt is placed in the head while the fluid is moved to the stomach.
“These shunts are prone for failure, which means they get blocked. They get infected and it tethers the patient to the hospital or the neurosurgeon,” said Dr. Krishnamurthy.
That’s why he’s trying to find a drug that would eliminate the fluid without surgery. Tom Clough is part of group known as REACH that started as a way to support Dr. Krishnamurthy’s work.
Clough’s daughter Elyse has already had nine surgeries for hydrocephalus and she’s only 12-years-old.
“She’s had nine emergency brain surgeries and every one of them has been different. Every one of them takes different time to recover. Every one of them, she’s a little bit different afterwards but she’s tough and she wants to keep fighting,” said Clough.
REACH, which stands for Research, Educate, and Cure Hydrocephalus, continues to raise funds for research to help doctors work to find a successful drug. Krishnamurthy said grant money from the federal government that has come from efforts by REACH have led to great progress.
“There are a lot of things that go into finding a cure. You have to do a lot of experiments. You have to scientifically show, without any question that the drug is going to be effective and safe,” said Krishnamurthy.
Families like the Clough’s are hopeful that can happen every day.
“She tells me everyday that she’s waiting for Dr. Krishnamurthy to come up with a solution so she doesn’t need brain surgeries anymore,” said Clough.
A solution that will eliminate a painful process for too many young children. There are more than one million people living in the United States living with hydrocephalus, which again is mostly common with children.
You’re encouraged to get involved with REACH or become more educated about Hydrocephalus. You can visit REACHorg.org for more information.
