Newborn in Somalia with abnormal CT scan — family desperate for help, doctors not acting
*Age:** Newborn (neonate)
**Height/Weight:** Unknown — premature baby
**Gender:** Girl
- **Medications:** None
- **Smoking status:** N/A (newborn)
- **Previous medical issues:** None known
- **Current medical issue:** Abnormal brain CT scan showing what appears to be severely enlarged ventricles and thinned brain tissue — possibly hydrocephalus
- **Duration:** Since birth / identified at birth
- **Location:** Somalia
I am based in the UK. My family back home in Somalia has a newborn baby who has had a CT scan done. The local doctors are not explaining the results or taking any action and the family has no one to advocate for them.
I am sharing the CT images here. From what I can see, the ventricles (fluid spaces in the brain) look very enlarged and the brain tissue appears compressed and thinned. I believe this may be hydrocephalus but I need to double check and help me understand:
- Does this scan look consistent with hydrocephalus?
- How severe does it appear?
- What treatment is normally needed (e.g. VP shunt surgery)?
- What questions should the family be demanding answers to from the doctors?
- Are there any charities or organisations that help newborns in low-resource countries get neurosurgical care?
This baby urgently needs help and the family has nowhere else to turn. Any guidance would be deeply appreciated. Images attached.
Thank you.