PRINTER'S NO. 4496
No. 924 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY DePASQUALE, BAKER, BEAR, BENNINGTON, BEYER,
BISHOP, BOBACK, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN,
CONKLIN, DALEY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK,
FRANKEL, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA,
HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, JAMES,
KENNEY, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANTZ, MARSICO, McCALL,
McGEEHAN, MELIO, MILLARD, R. MILLER, MOYER, MUSTIO, MYERS,
NAILOR, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, QUINN, RAMALEY,
RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO,
SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
SWANGER, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD,
GILLESPIE, MURT, CREIGHTON, BENNINGHOFF AND WALKO,
OCTOBER 6, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 6, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of November 2008 as "Hydrocephalus
2 Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Hydrocephalus is a serious neurological condition,
4 characterized by the abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in
5 the ventricles of the brain; and
6 WHEREAS, There is no known cure for hydrocephalus, which
7 affects an estimated one million Americans; and
8 WHEREAS, Out of every 1,000 babies, one to two are born with
9 hydrocephalus; and
10 WHEREAS, More than 375,000 older Americans have
11 hydrocephalus, which often goes undetected or misdiagnosed as
12 dementia, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease; and
1 WHEREAS, With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people
2 with hydrocephalus are able to live full and productive lives;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, The standard treatment for hydrocephalus was
5 developed in 1952 and carries multiple risks, including shunt
6 failure, infection and over drainage; and
7 WHEREAS, There are fewer than ten centers in the United
8 States specializing in the treatment of adults with normal
9 pressure hydrocephalus; and
10 WHEREAS, Each year, the people of the United States spend in
11 excess of $1 billion to treat hydrocephalus; and
12 WHEREAS, A September 2005 conference sponsored by seven
13 institutes of the National Institutes of Health and entitled
14 "Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions" resulted in
15 efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and treatment
16 efforts; and
17 WHEREAS, The Hydrocephalus Association is one of the nation's
18 oldest and largest patient and research advocacy and support
19 networks for individuals suffering from hydrocephalus; and
20 WHEREAS, Further research into the epidemiology,
21 pathophysiology, disease burden and improved treatment of
22 hydrocephalus is needed; therefore be it
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
24 month of November 2008 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in
25 Pennsylvania so that Pennsylvanians can become more familiar
26 with hydrocephalus and the individuals dedicated to finding its
27 cure.
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