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Hydrocephalus

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• What is hydrocephalus?
• What are the different types of hydrocephalus?
• Who gets this hydrocephalus?
• What causes hydrocephalus?
• What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus?
• How is hydrocephalus diagnosed?
• What is the current treatment for hydrocephalus?
• What are the possible complications of a shunt system?
• What is the prognosis for hydrocephalus?
• What research is being done on hydrocephalus?
• Where can I get more information about hydrocephalus?
• Patient Discussions: Hydrocephalus - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Neurologist in your town

Hydrocephalus Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Hydrocephalus

Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary with age, disease progression, and individual differences in tolerance to the condition.
Initially, the most obvious indication of hydrocephalus is often a rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size. Other symptoms may include:

• vomiting,
• sleepiness,
• irritability,
• downward deviation of the eyes (also called "sunsetting"), and
• seizures.

As the individual ages they may experience different symptoms because their skulls cannot expand to accommodate the buildup of CSF. Symptoms may include

• headache followed by vomiting,
• nausea,
• papilledema (swelling of the optic disk which is part of the optic nerve),
• blurred or double vision, sunsetting of the eyes,
• problems with balance,
• poor coordination,
• gait disturbance,
• urinary incontinence,
• slowing or loss of developmental progress,
• lethargy,
• drowsiness,
• irritability, or
• other changes in personality or cognition including memory loss.

Read more about the symptoms of hydrocephalus »

What is hydrocephalus?

The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain.
The ventricular system is made up of four ventricles connected by narrow passages.. Normally, CSF flows through the ventricles, exits into cisterns (closed spaces that serve as reservoirs) at the base of the brain, bathes the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, and then reabsorbs into the bloodstream.
CSF has three important life-sustaining functions: 1) to keep the brain tissue buoyant, acting as a cushion or "shock absorber"; 2) to act as the vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste; and 3) to flow between the cranium and spine and compensate for changes in intracranial blood volume (the amount of blood within the brain).
The balance between production and absorption of CSF is critically important. Because CSF is made continuously, medical conditions that block its normal flow or absorption will result in an over-accumulation of CSF. The resulting pressure of the fluid against brain tissue is what causes hydrocephalus.

What are the different types of hydrocephalus?