A young baby from Karachi, Pakistan was born with a rare condition that caused his head to swell to double the size of a football.
The condition is called hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the brain. The dangerous and excess fluid can put pressure on the brain.
The head of Muhammad Anas, began to grow at a rapid rate six months after he was born. His parents immediately rushed him to the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, where doctors refused to operate on him because the chances of survival were low.
Determined not to give up, his parents took him to Medicenter General Hospital, where doctors agreed to perform the risky surgery. Neurosurgeon Dr Abid Saleem told the Daily Mail, even though the baby had a 50% chance of surviving the operation, they decided to drain "all the excessive fluid from his head".
Baby Anas responded well to the treatment. Six months after undergoing the life-changing surgery, he is able to eat better, play and he even responds to the sounds of his parents’ voice.
The toddler is luckier than an Indian baby named Roona Begum with the same condition, who sadly died in June this year because she suffered breathing issues.
Hydrocephalus can develop at birth or at a later stage in life. The report also reveals it can occur in babies born prematurely.
