Byculla baby 1 of 17 in world with birth defect

Doctors at JJ Hospital, Byculla have reported a very rare congenital condition, lateral meningocele, of which only 16 cases have been reported around the world.

Doctors at JJ Hospital, Byculla have reported a very rare congenital condition, lateral meningocele, of which only 16 cases have been reported around the world.

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Lateral meningocele refers to a condition wherein a child is born with a defect or opening in his skull leading to the protruding of the meninges (brain covering). “The child appeared to have two faces,” said Dr Nitin Dhende, head of paediatric surgery at JJ Hospital.

In August, two-month-old Shubham underwent a complicated surgery at JJ Hospital, wherein the doctor removed the swelling caused by the meninges, which was protruding from his skull.

He was discharged in September, but on Monday, the histopathology reports of the biopsy confirmed that Shubham had lateral meningocele.

Shubham’s father Anil who works as a farmer in Jamked, Ahmednagar told doctors that the whole village was shocked to see the child. The parents went to various hospitals that refused to operate after seeing the child’s condition.

“We ourselves were astounded to see the child’s appearance. We were afraid that his vision could have been hampered but luckily it wasn’t,” said Dr Dhende adding that salvaging the eye made the surgery even more challenging.

According to doctors, Shubham’s is only the second case to be reported in India, so far. “The condition is not life threatening, but there is a possibility that such children could have some brain malformation,” said Dr Santosh Karmarkar, paediatric surgery, Lilavati Hospital, Bandra.

“Remolding of the skull bone can take place as Shubham grows and he might not need a plastic surgery also,” said Dr Dhende.