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Hydrocephalus

FACTS:

• Hydrocephalus occurs when the fluid in the brain cannot drain away into the bloodstream because the normal pathways are blocked. The fluid is still being made by the brain, so the build up of fluid will cause pressure to rise inside the brain and this can lead to damage.
  
• Hydrocephalus may occur in infancy or in older children and can be caused by a brain bleed (which may be as a result of a premature birth), meningitis, cysts or brain tumors, or other rare causes.
  
• Any child with rapid or abnormally large head growth should be seen by a doctor.
  
• Symptoms of hydrocephalus in infants include: poor feeding, irritability, decreased activity, vomiting.
  
• Symptoms in children include: decreased mental activity, headaches (most frequently in the morning), neck pain , vomiting, (frequently in the morning), drowsiness, blurred vision, double vision, difficulty in walking, and stunted physical and sexual growth.

TREATMENT:

• Medical treatment is always necessary. If an infant or child has any of these symptoms they need to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
  
• Treatment usually includes surgery. The doctor will make a new pathway to drain off the excess fluid.
  
• Surgery normally involves placing a tube called a shunt that redirects the extra fluids to other body cavities such as the abdomen.
  
• Caregivers should be aware of all the signs and symptoms of increased pressure inside the brain to monitor a child post-surgery. Any child with a shunt should be watched closely for infection.
  
• The severity of hydrocephalus can differ considerably between individuals; some children may be affected cognitively while others are of average or above-average intelligence. A child with hydrocephalus may have motion and visual problems, or problems with coordination. They may have a higher risk of developing epilepsy.