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What We Do

CURE has a comprehensive approach to providing surgical care for children with disabilities. We support their families and strengthen the capacity of local church and healthcare systems in the countries we serve.

CURE Children’s Hospitals

CURE International is a global nonprofit network of children’s hospitals providing surgical care in a compassionate, gospel-centered environment. Services are provided at no cost to families because of the generosity of donors and partners like you.

About CURE

Motivated by our Christian identity, CURE operates a global network of children’s hospitals that provides life-changing surgical care to children living with disabilities.

CURE Overview

CURE International is a global nonprofit network of children’s hospitals providing surgical care in a compassionate, gospel-centered environment. Services are provided at no cost to families because of the generosity of donors and partners like you.

Overview

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Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a life-threatening condition characterized by an enlarged head. It is caused by an excess of cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull, causing pressure. Without neurosurgical intervention, this pressure can damage the brain, cause blindness, and lead to death.

In children, hydrocephalus is commonly associated with spina bifida and also occurs due to an infection causing a blockage to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

  • 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus worldwide.
  • 80% of those children come from low- and middle-income countries.

 

What issues do children with hydrocephalus face?

Without medical intervention, babies born with hydrocephalus are at high-risk for infection, injury, and even death.

Physical Conditions

An enlarged head results from excess fluid in the skull.

Stigma

Children often experience discrimination, leading to poor self-confidence and isolation.

Developmental Delays

Children may experience a delay in meeting milestones like holding their head up, sitting, and walking.

Treatment

The preferred treatment for hydrocephalous is a two-part procedure that helps drain and decrease the amount of cerebrospinal fluid the brain makes.

This technique was pioneered at CURE Uganda and has become an established treatment all over the world. The two-parts include:

  • The ETV (Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy) enters the baby’s brain and opens up a channel to improve cerebrospinal fluid flow.
  • The CPC (Choroid Plexus Cauterization) decreases the amount of cerebrospinal fluid the brain can make.

The traditional technique is the placement of a shunt or tube tunneled under the skin to relieve the build-up of cerebrospinal fluid. This technique is still used in children unsuitable for the endoscopic (keyhole) procedure.

Treatment for hydrocephalus is available at this CURE hospital:

Before
After

CUREkid Spotlight, Hydrocephalus

Alamanzan | CURE Uganda

Before Surgery

When Alamanzan was born, his mom, Maria, immediately knew something was wrong. When her local hospital could not help, Alamanzan’s condition continued to deteriorate. Thankfully, they received a referral to CURE Uganda.  

After Surgery

World-class surgeons at CURE Uganda were able to successfully treat Alamanzan’s hydrocephalus, and Maria brings him back to CURE for regular check-ups. She says she’s grateful for the generous donors to CURE who made her son’s surgery possible—and we’re grateful to see little Alamanzan learning to walk, talk, and play! 

 

“If hydrocephalus is not treated, there is progressive growth of the child’s head. They will not hit milestones. They will develop feeding disabilities and develop pressure sores on their heads, which are prone to infection. Becuase of all this, if the child with hydrocephalus remains untreated, they will eventually succumb.”

— Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye, Medical Director at CURE Uganda