[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 373 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 373

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 29, 2009.
Whereas Hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition, characterized by the 
        abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in the ventricles of the brain;
Whereas Hydrocephalus may cause head enlargement, blurred vision or blindness, 
        seizures, impaired physical development, learning disabilities, 
        progressive irreversible damage to the nerve cells in the brain, and 
        even death;
Whereas this serious neurological condition may occur at any age, and affects an 
        estimated 1,000,000 people in the United States;
Whereas 1 out of every 500 children in the United States are born with 
        hydrocephalus, and the condition is the leading cause of brain surgery 
        in children;
Whereas more than 375,000 older adults in the United States suffer from 
        hydrocephalus, the condition often goes undetected for years in older 
        adults, causing such problems as difficulty walking and urinary 
        incontinence, and may be misdiagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, 
        or Parkinson's disease;
Whereas the standard treatment for hydrocephalus, insertion of a shunt to drain 
        excess cerebral fluid, is a 50-year-old technology that carries multiple 
        risks, including shunt failure, infection, and overdrainage;
Whereas each year cerebral spinal fluid shunting procedures account for 
        approximately $1,000,000,000 in health care spending in the United Sates 
        alone, with half that amount spent on shunt revisions;
Whereas more than 40,000 operations for hydrocephalus occur annually in the 
        United States, yet there are fewer than 10 centers in the Nation 
        specializing in the treatment of adults with hydrocephalus;
Whereas although there is no single known cause of hydrocephalus or ways to 
        prevent and cure the condition, with the appropriate diagnosis and 
        proper treatment, individuals with hydrocephalus are able to lead full 
        and productive lives;
Whereas proper prenatal nutrition during the first weeks of conception can also 
        help reduce the risk of children developing hydrocephalus;
Whereas a September 2005 conference sponsored by the National Institutes of 
        Health, entitled ``Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions'', 
        resulted in efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and 
        treatment efforts;
Whereas further research into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, disease burden, 
        and improved treatment of hydrocephalus should be conducted and 
        supported, including the collection and analysis of statistics and data 
        concerning the seriousness of hydrocephalus and its impact on families 
        in the United States;
Whereas public awareness, professional education, and scientific research 
        regarding hydrocephalus should increase through partnerships between the 
        Federal Government, health care professionals, and patient advocacy 
        groups, such as the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation;
Whereas these public-private partnerships would ensure that individuals 
        suffering with hydrocephalus and their families are empowered with 
        educational materials, informed about the latest research, have access 
        to quality health care, and are able to advocate for increased research 
        and funding in order advance the public's understanding of the 
        condition, improve the diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus, and one 
        day, find a cure; and
Whereas September would be an appropriate month to designate as ``National 
        Hydrocephalus Awareness Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the designation of 
``National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month''.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.