Hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the skull and causes the brain to swell. The name means “water on the brain.” Brain damage can occur as a result of the fluid buildup. This can lead to developmental, physical, and intellectual impairments.
Q. How does a child get hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus occurs when the body makes more cerebrospinal fluid than the brain absorbs. A child may be born with this, but it can happen to a person at any age. Older children or adults with an abnormal growth in the head (tumor) or a head injury can develop hydrocephalus.
Table of Contents
- Q. How does a child get hydrocephalus?
- Q. How long can a child live with hydrocephalus?
- Q. What is the treatment for hydrocephalus in the child?
- Q. What happens if a baby is born with fluid in the brain?
- Q. How do I know if my baby has hydrocephalus?
- Q. At what age is hydrocephalus usually diagnosed?
- Q. Can fluid on the brain go away by itself?
- Q. What are the key signs of hydrocephalus in a child?
Q. How long can a child live with hydrocephalus?
What is the life expectancy of a child who has hydrocephalus? Children often have a full life span if hydrocephalus is caught early and treated. Infants who undergo surgical treatment to reduce the excess fluid in the brain and survive to age 1 will not have a shortened life expectancy due to hydrocephalus.
Q. What is the treatment for hydrocephalus in the child?
The most common hydrocephalus treatment is a shunt, a small piece of silicone tubing placed surgically inside the body to bypass a blockage or otherwise create a better flow of cerebrospinal fluid. The shunt allows for fluid to flow through it in one direction.
Q. What happens if a baby is born with fluid in the brain?
The impact of hydrocephalus on a newborn is somewhat unpredictable and can vary in severity. Because it injures the brain, children with hydrocephalus may have epilepsy, learning disabilities, short-term memory loss, problems with coordination, vision problems, and early onset of puberty.
Q. How do I know if my baby has hydrocephalus?
Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in babies and children can include: fussiness. tiredness. poor appetite.
Q. At what age is hydrocephalus usually diagnosed?
Hydrocephalus can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and adults age 60 and older. It affects adult males and females, as well as people of different races, about equally. Experts believe that normal-pressure hydrocephalus accounts for five to six percent of all dementia cases.
Q. Can fluid on the brain go away by itself?
Hydrocephalus is a condition of the brain where there is a pressure-induced deterioration of brain functions. It does not go away on its own and needs special treatment. Hydrocephalus is due to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cavities deep within the brain.
Q. What are the key signs of hydrocephalus in a child?
Physical signs and symptoms
- Headache.
- Blurred or double vision.
- Eyes fixed downward (sunsetting of eyes)
- Abnormal enlargement of a toddler’s head.
- Sleepiness or lethargy.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Unstable balance.
- Poor coordination.
