[Clinico-epidemiologic study of infantile hydrocephalus in Japan].
A nation-wide survey on congenital hydrocephalus, including secondary hydrocephalus occurring within one year after birth, was carried out in 1988. The number of patients with congenital hydrocephalus treated during the previous one year was estimated to be 3,200-3,500 throughout Japan. The number of new cases of this disease which occurred during the year was calculated to be 800. This indicates a rate of 0.58 per 1,000 live births. Clinico-epidemiologic features were compared with regard to three subjects listed below. (1) The difference between the epidemiologic profile of term and preterm infants with hydrocephalus was investigated. As for etiology, the incidences of primary hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus complicated by Arnold-Chiari malformation type II and meningocele were significantly higher in term infants than in preterm infants. It was estimated that about 30% of the hydrocephalus in preterm infants and only 7.7% in term infants occurred as a consequence of intracranial hemorrhage. The degree of neurological impairment and the mortality rate were higher in preterm infants than term infants. (2) The changing panorama of infantile hydrocephalus in Japan was investigated comparing the epidemiologic data of four groups according to the birth year. As for pregnancy period, preterm infants with hydrocephalus were gradually increasing recently. Hydrocephalus secondary to intracranial hemorrhage was increasing and that secondary to intracranial infection was decreasing. The rate of shunt malfunction was decreasing significantly. (3) Clinico-epidemiologic features of intractable hydrocephalus based on the diagnostic criteria of the research committee was investigated comparing intractable with non-intractable groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Negoro
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya.
Watanabe
K
K
Nakashima
S
S
Kikuchi
H
H
Tamakoshi
A
A
D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis