Boy With ‘The World’s Largest Head’ Has Surgery To Remove 3.7 Litres Of Fluid From Around His Skull

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Mrityunjay Das, who is just seven months old and suffers from hydrocephalus, was relieved of nearly four litres of fluid, which inflated his face to the size of a watermelon.

As a result, the diameter of the youngster’s head has been reduced by 26 cm – from 96cm to 70cm – over six weeks of treatment.

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'The cognitive functions of the child have improved a lot, he is stable and has responded well to the treatment.'

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Dr Dilip Parida, superintendent of the AIIMS hospital at Bhuwaneshwar, said: 'The child was admitted with us since November 20. The head was containing almost 5.5 liters of fluid inside that.

'Until now we have removed 3.7 liters of fluid by external ventricular drainage. Subsequently, we have placed a stunt inside baby head which is working perfectly.

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Painful: Mrityunjay, who is just seven months old and suffers from hydrocephalus, was relieved of nearly four litres of fluid, which inflated his face to the size of a watermelon

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The youngster responded well to the treatment but will remain in hospital.

In the past, hydrocephalus was sometimes referred to as ‘water on the brain’ (the word hydrocephalus comes from the Greek words for water and head).

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The boy's parents, Kamalesh Das and Kavita, revealed that their family had been ostracised by neighbours in Ranpur, Nayagarhsince, as a result of their son's unusual appearance.

Kamalesh, 35, who works in Kolkata, said: 'People would call our baby a ghost because of his unusual appearance.

'As his head reduces to a normal size, the attitude of our neighbours and villagers will change. They will stop calling him derogatory names like giant head or ghost baby.'

The family, doctors and nurses helped alleviate the pressure on the boy's brain.