A life-saving operation has successfully reduced the abnormally large head of a baby by nearly 30cm. Mrityunjay, previously known as the ‘ghost baby’ and referred to as ‘giant head’ due to his head swelling to 96cm, suffered from hydrocephalus, a condition causing an excessive buildup of fluid in the brain.
However, a procedure that drained 3.7 liters of fluid from his skull led to a remarkable reduction in head size, now measuring 70cm, all within just a month and a half.
Mrityunjay suffers from hydrocephalus that results in excess fluid build up on the brain
Following the operation, Mrityunjay’s head size decreased from 96cm to 70cm. The infant, hailing from Ranpur State, India, is now scheduled for cranoplasty to reshape his previously deformed skull.
Dr. Dilip Parida, the superintendent of the AIIMS hospital in Bhuwaneshwar, reported, “The child was admitted on November 20 with the head containing almost 5.5 liters of fluid. We have removed 3.7 liters of fluid so far by external ventricular drainage. Now, the circumference of the head has come down from 96cm to 70cm. The cognitive functions of the child have improved significantly, he is stable, and he has responded well to the treatment.”
Mrityunjay’s parents, Kamalesh Das and Kavita, shared that their family faced social ostracism in their local community due to their son’s deformity. Kamalesh, aged 35 and working in Kolkata, expressed, “People would call our baby a ‘ghost’ because of his unusual appearance.”
The baby’s head looks smaller after the procedure. He is now set to have cranoplasty to reshape his deformed skull
Mrityunjay’s parents, Kavita and Kamalesh, remain hopeful that as their son’s head returns to a normal size, the attitudes of their neighbors and fellow villagers will change. They anticipate an end to derogatory names such as ‘barka matha’ (giant head) or ‘ghost baby.’
Kamalesh expressed his gratitude, stating, “Now, I am sure that he will be able to lead a normal life. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the doctors.”
Remarkably, the treatment, which would typically cost around £6,000, is being covered by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India’s premier hospital that provides free treatment to patients.
It’s worth noting that Mrityunjay isn’t the only infant to have experienced this condition. Medical records indicate that Roona Begum, hailing from Tripura in India, had her head swell to a size of 94cm.
Mrityunjay’s parents and doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)