Inusa D., 9

9years old Inusa lives with his parents and 5 siblings. He is the 3rd child of his parents. They live in a single room He was attending Musa Ibrahim Islamic school Fambegwa Kaduna State and was in Primary 3 before he stopped going to school due to his sudden illness. His father is a farmer while his mother is a house wife. Over a year ago, his father fell ill and has not been able to farm since then living the children to the mercy of strangers and family members. He is a brilliant boy that is full of life but his life is currently hanging by a thread hoping to get help as quickly as possible. Like most boys, he likes to play football while in school and after school he helps his parents out in the farm. These days he is unable to do that because he is now sick. About 5weeks ago, his father noticed that each time he calls the child the boy does not respond and when he does, he speech was not clear and he was always staggering as though his head is moving him so his father called a relative of theirs that works in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna who then spoke with a neurosurgeon. They were referred to do Brain MRI by the neurosurgeon who later referred the child to Epsilon Hospital. When they presented at Epsilon Hospital, Inusa was reviewed and a diagnosis of Obstructive Hydrocephalus with raised intracranial pressure and surgery was planned. The family couldn't afford the surgery so they were referred to Helpster Charity.

Inusa Dalhatu, a 9-year-old, was admitted for postmeningitic hydrocephalus and underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery on November 11, 2025. The procedure was successful and well tolerated, with an uneventful postoperative course marked by steady progress and close monitoring for complications like infection or shunt malfunction. By discharge on November 28, 2025, Inusa was stable, with healing surgical sites, normal vital signs, and satisfactory feeding. He was discharged to follow-up at the Neurosurgical Outpatient Clinic, with instructions for wound care, medication, monitoring for signs of infection or shunt issues, and regular check-ups to assess shunt function and neurological development.

Inusa is suffering from Obstructive Hydrocephalus which is most due to post-infection obstruction to the flow of CSF. This has resulted to raised intracranial pressure and some macrocephalus, he will suffer from seizures and neurological deficits if surgery is not performed. The prognosis is good with timely surgical intervention, particularly in view of: • Absence of significant neurological deficit, • Normal sensorium (GCS 15/15), • Early presentation and diagnosis, and • No evidence of active infection or mass effect.