Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up within cavities or ventricles that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The term hydrocephalus is a Greek word: “hydro” meaning water and “cephalus” meaning the head, or sometimes called “water on the brain.”

Cerebrospinal fluid constantly circulates within the ventricles of the brain and performs three functions. It acts as a “shock absorber” for the brain and spinal cord, a vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste, and it flows between the cranium and spine to regulate changes in pressure.

If this fluid builds up within the brain, it can create harmful pressures on the tissues of the brain confined within the skull. It can occur at any age, but it is most common in infants and adults over 60 or older. Most of the cases seen in children are diagnosed before birth, at the time of delivery, or in early childhood, and it is the most common reason for brain surgery in young children.

Hydrocephalus can be inherited, associated with developmental disorders like spina bifida or encephalocele, or caused by brain tumors, head injuries, hemorrhage, or diseases such as meningitis.

Hydrocephalus

This condition is caused by an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid (commonly called CSF) in the brain’s ventricles. The ventricles are a system of large, fluid-filled open spaces inside the brain. Too much CSF in the ventricles can elevate the pressure in the skull. It can damage delicate brain tissue.

Depending on the age, symptoms vary from person to person. Infants and young children are more susceptible to symptoms from increased intracranial pressure like vomiting and adults can experience loss of function like walking or thinking. Below are lists of symptoms by developmental age:

Adolescents

• Nausea and vomiting
• Swelling of the optic disc or papilledema
• Blurred or double vision
• Balance and gait abnormalities
• Slowing or loss of developmental progress
• Changes in personality
• Inability to concentrate
• Seizures
• Poor appetite
• Urinary incontinence

Adults

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty walking or gait disturbances
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Lethargy
• Bladder incontinence
• Impaired vision
• Impaired cognitive skills
• Memory loss
• Mild dementia