Sheffield Children's Hospital to host event to raise awareness for hydrocephalus

Staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital are set to host a fundraising event in which they intend to raise awareness for hydrocephalus, a condition which causes the build up of fluid in the skull.
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Hydrocephalus is a medical term given to the condition which causes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to build up around the brain, causing increased pressure inside the skull.

Staff on Ward 5, the neurosciences ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, deal with patients with the condition on a daily basis and as such, they decided to help raise awareness of the condition by holding an event on Tuesday, February 11.

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It will coincide with hydrocephalus awareness week which runs between February 7 and 13 and is being launched by Shine, a charity which provides support and advice on spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Sheffield Children's Hospital.Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Liz Hinde, clinical nurse specialist for paediatric hydrocephalus, said: “It is two-fold – it’s about trying to just raise awareness of the condition for those that are suffering from it and it helps them to appreciate what is going on for hydrocephalus and that there are other people out there with hydrocephalus and for us, it is about raising awareness within the trust so that other professionals are aware of it.

“All of our patients come to Ward 5 for their treatment but some have other things such as respiratory issues so they’ll turn up at A&E and other medical wards so we need everyone to know.”

During the event, a hydrocephalus awareness stall will be on display near the main reception of The Sheffield Children’s Hospital, on Clarkson Street, and staff on Ward 5 will be wearing hats to raise money for the cause.

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Shine is also encouraging others to fundraise by being sponsored to ‘wear a hat for hydrocephalus’ to work or school.

One in every 1,000 babies are affected by hydrocephalus and it is the most common reason for a child to have a brain operation.

It can also occur as a result of injury or infection and requires a shunt operation to divert the accumulated CSF away from the skull to another part of the body where it can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

For more information or to donate visit the Shine website.