Epidemiological, therapeutic and evolution aspects of hydrocephalus in children in Madagascar

Hydrocephalus is a disorder of the hydrodynamics of the CSF resulting in an increase in the volume of CSF in the cranial cavity. Hydrocephalus is frequent in Madagascar. We conducted a multicenter and retrospective study of operated hydrocephalic children in 3 neurosurgical departments in Madagascar over a 3-year period. We report 71 cases of hydrocephalus in operated children. Infants predominated in 90.1% of cases. Postmeningeal etiology was found in 42.3%. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting was undertaken in 92.9% of cases. After the operation, the evolution was favourable in 84.5% of cases. Complications were reported. After discharge from hospital, 59.1% of the children were lost to follow-up within the first month. Hydrocephalus in children predominates in infants. Meningitis remains the most frequent etiology. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the technique most commonly used in Madagascar. The result is favourable in the majority of cases.