Introduction: Hydrocephalus is defined as the extra cerebral accumulation of water, the commonest neurological anomalies, one of leading causes of morbidity and mortality in infants worldwide.
Objective: To study the epidemiology, evaluate management and prevention of Congenital Hydrocephalus.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for infants from Sohag University and Insurance hospitals from March 2014 to December 2014. All recruited infants after clinical evaluation and investigation to ensure the diagnosis, were interviewed assessing socio-demographic conditions, risk factors then data are statistically analysed.
Results: In our study including 240 hydrocephalic infants and 600 non hydrocephalic, the estimated incidence of hydrocephalus was 6.76/1000 living births. Significant risk factors were identified: uniparity (53.3%), age of the mother <20 years at conception (25%), maternal diabetes (13.8%), fever and common cold (32.1%), exposure to pollutants, irradiation (15.1%) and (13.3%) respectively. Consanguinity was present in 58% , family history was detected in 20.8%, drugs intake in 63.8%, fathers above 50 years at time of conception was detected in 30.4%, of them (85.28%) were non professionals, no antenatal care (51.7%), polyhydramnios (7.5%), oligohydramnios (7.1%), early vaginal bleeding (14.2%), preeclampsia (7.5%), twins was recorded (7.9%), breech presentation in (12.9%). Congenital hydrocephalus was treated by shunt operation in 230 infants (85%), and prognosis was good in 70%. Conclusions: Important risk factors have been identified, strongly associated with the development of congenital hydrocephalus in infants. Improvement antenatal care, socio-demographic conditions and adopted fortification of the staple food are needed to our locality.