Brain hydrocephalus in children and adults

Hydrocephalus of the brain in children is a disease that is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the subarachnoid divisions and the ventricular system. The main cause of the disease is excessive production of fluid or difficult outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Usually, such infringements are caused by parasitic or infectious diseases, brain tumors or spikes in it. As a result of these pathological changes, cerebrospinal fluid accumulates and leads to noticeable changes from the side of the skull. Brain hydrocephalus in children is usually seen with this symptom. After further examinations of children, doctors find other signs of the disease - paralysis, epileptic seizures, visual impairment, thinning of the walls of the brain. It is the thinned walls that can lead to the most severe consequence - the rupture of the ventricles.

If cerebral hydrocephalus replacement is diagnosed, then with this form the brain takes smaller dimensions than usual, and the rest of the space is replaced by cerebrospinal fluid. In this case, the increase in the skull may not be so noticeable.

Brain hydrocephalus in children is often congenital. In this case, the cause of the disease lies in the intra-uterine problems that accompanied at a certain stage of fetal development. That is why in the early stages of pregnancy, women are given an analysis of the spinal canal infection, which makes it possible to diagnose hydrocephalus at the earliest stage. If the diagnosis is unambiguous, women are advised to interrupt pregnancy. Physicians talk about the hydrocephalus of children and in the event that the volume of the head is half that of the norm.

Signs of hydrocephalus, by which it is possible to identify a disease with mild symptoms of augmentation of the skull:

- constant capriciousness of babies, which is caused by intracranial hypertension;

- Lack of normal appetite;

- retardation of reaction;

- marble coloring of the skin;

- excessively open eyes (retraction);

- A look tending down.

Brain hydrocephalus in adults is acquired. The causes of such hydrocephalus may be cyst, meningitis and other abnormalities. Symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults are more obvious - this is a prolonged headache, usually in the nape and forehead, attacks of vomiting and nausea, increased intracranial pressure. Outwardly, hydrocephalus manifests itself in the slowness of movements, the violation of their coordination, the weakening of the intellect, and the breakdown of the reflexes.

The most severe consequences of hydrocephalus are associated with fluid pressure on white matter in the human brain, after which people suffer from migraines, dementia, gait disorders, and urinary incontinence.

Brain hydrocephalus in children, as in adults, can be of several types depending on the location of the fluid. It can be ventricular (internal), general and external.

In order to accurately recognize the disease, some visual signs are not enough. Usually, magnetic resonance imaging is used, the fundus is examined, the puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid is taken. For examination of babies up to one and a half years use neurosonography, which makes it possible to examine the brain before the fontanelle is infected.

Treatment of hydrocephalus is possible only surgically. Any medications do not treat the disease, but only reduce intracranial pressure and slow the progression of the disease. Radical methods help in most cases. With the help of surgery, there is an opportunity to adjust the outflow of fluid from the brain. Relapse of the disease is observed very little.

Congenital forms of hydrocephalus require more thorough treatment. If surgery is needed urgently, a gentle intervention is performed using an endoscope.