Burdwan baby with enlarged head draws people's curiosity

Shivam is suffering from Hydrocephalus and his abnormally large head has become a subject of inquisitiveness in the local area.

A child from Burdwan district of Bengal is suffering from a unique disorder of “enlarged head”.

The infant's abnormally large head has become a subject of inquisitiveness and enquiry in the local area.

Shivam is suffering from “Hydrocephalus”, a medical condition where the victim suffers from a state of “enlarged head” due to the abnormal accumulation of fluid inside the brain.

Shivam's family went in shock out of disbelief when they first discovered that their son's head has expanded after a month of his birth.

Unable to understand the disorder they also blamed the hospital authorities for the mishap.

Shivam was born fine but developed the complications later.

His father Rajesh Das is the only bread earner of the family who sells sandal straps for a living and resides in a shanty at the Goods Shed Road. Three years ago his wife Chhavi Das gave birth to their younger son Shivam at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital.

The family claimed that the child was born healthy but the doctors put him in ICCU for nearly two months.

No sooner they were informed that their son is unwell however the doctors never disclosed the facts to them.

Rajesh said “Shivam was born healthy. He is not suffering from this problem since bith. But the doctor kept him in ICCU saying he was ill. Later they asked for our permission to kill him. But we can't let this happen. He is our son. So we brought him back.”

Colloquially known as “water on the brain” the rare medical condition affects one out of every two thousand people.

The accumulated fluid creates a pressure on the skull which causes progressive expansion of the head along with severe headache.

The disease is curable and surgery is the only permanent solution.

Dr. Asraful Mirza, a paediatrician shared, “Treatment is there. Through a shunt surgery called Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt the excess water can be pulled out of the brain into a tube placed inside the stomach. After that gradually the size of the head becomes normal.”

Belonging to the socially backward section the family lacks both education and money.

With his meager income of rupees 150/- to Rs. 200/- per day Rajesh manages hard to feed his family and spending thousands for surgery is beyond his capacity.

Shivam's mother Chhavi said, “People suggested that if we can go to Vellore for treatment then perhaps we can save him but we don't have the money. We have also approached the local party leaders but till now no help has been received.”