PRINTER'S NO. 2492
No. 406 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, WAUGH, PILEGGI, COSTA, FONTANA, PIPPY, STACK, BOSCOLA, STOUT, BAKER, TARTAGLIONE, ERICKSON, EARLL, KASUNIC, HUGHES, RAFFERTY, BROWNE, MUSTO, LAVALLE, RHOADES, FERLO, FUMO, BRUBAKER AND O'PAKE, OCTOBER 7, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 7, 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 13 WHEREAS, With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people 14 with hydrocephalus are able to live full and productive lives; 15 and 16 WHEREAS, The standard treatment for hydrocephalus was 17 developed in 1952 and carries multiple risks, including shunt
1 failure, infection and over drainage; and 2 WHEREAS, There are fewer than ten centers in the United 3 States specializing in the treatment of adults with normal 4 pressure hydrocephalus; and 5 WHEREAS, Each year, the people of the United States spend in 6 excess of $1 billion to treat hydrocephalus; and 7 WHEREAS, A September 2005 conference sponsored by seven 8 institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and entitled, 9 "Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions," resulted in 10 efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and treatment 11 efforts; and 12 WHEREAS, The Hydrocephalus Association is one of the nation's 13 oldest and largest patient and research advocacy and support 14 networks for individuals suffering from hydrocephalus; and 15 WHEREAS, Further research into the epidemiology, 16 pathophysiology, disease burden and improved treatment of 17 hydrocephalus should be conducted or supported; and 18 WHEREAS, Public awareness and professional education 19 regarding hydrocephalus should increase through partnerships 20 between the Federal Government and patient advocacy 21 organizations, such as the Hydrocephalus Association; therefore 22 be it 23 RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Federal Government to 24 collect comprehensive statistics and data regarding the 25 seriousness of hydrocephalus and its impact on American 26 families; and be it further 27 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of November 28 2008 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania so that 29 Pennsylvanians can become more familiar with hydrocephalus and 30 the individuals dedicated to finding its cure. I30L82JS/20080S0406R2492 - 2 -