WATER ON THE BRAIN (HYDROCEPHALUS)

SYMPTOMS

Infants

Early signs of hydrocephalus in infants include:

• Bulging fontanel, which is the opening at the top of the skull
• Increased head size
• Eyes that gaze downward
• Seizures
• Irritability
• Vomiting
• Excessive drowsiness
• Poor growth
• Low muscle tone and quality

Children  

Symptoms that affect children include:

• Short, sharp cries
• Personality changes
• Changes in facial structure
• Crossed eyes
• Headaches
• Muscle fits
• Delayed growth
• Trouble eating
• Extreme drowsiness
• Irritability
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of bladder control
• Larger than normal head
• Trouble staying awake
• Vomiting or nausea
• Seizures
• Problems concentrating

Adults

Signs in adults include:

• Chronic headaches
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty walking
• Bladder issues
• Vision issues
• Poor memory
• Difficulty concentrating

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

This condition begins gradually and happens in adults past 60 years of age. A common sign is sudden falling without loss of consciousness. Other symptoms include:

• Changes in the way you walk
• Impaired cognition and memory
• Trouble controlling urination
• Trouble controlling bowel movements
• Headaches

DIAGNOSIS

If the doctor suspects that you may have hydrocephalus, he or she will do a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms. In children, doctors check the eyes if they are indented in,  reflexes, a bulging fontanel, and a head that is bigger than what is common for their age.

Your doctor may also use an ultrasound to take a look at the brain. Magnetic resonation imaging (MRI) can be used to scan for excess fluid in the brain. X-rays can portray a cross-sectional image of the brain. Computerized tomography (CT) scans can help diagnose hydrocephalus in children and adults.

TREATMENT

Hydrocephalus can be damaging if it’s left untreated. Treatment may not easily reverse brain damage. The goal is to prevent further damage to the brain. This includes restoring the normal flow of fluid in the brain. Your doctor may offer you the following treatments:

Shunt insertion

In this treatment, a shunt is cautiously inserted. The shunt is a long tube with a valve that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

Ventriculostomy

An approach called a ventriculostomy can be done as a choice aside from having a shunt implanted. This includes making an opening at the base of a ventricle or within ventricles. This also drains the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.