How to relieve headache caused by hydrocephalus?

Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Hydrocephalus causing headaches is generally related to high pressure in the brain. Hydrocephalus leads to an enlargement of the ventricular system, compressing the surrounding brain tissue. Since the volume of the skull is fixed, increased accumulation of fluid can cause a rapid rise in internal pressure, leading to headaches. In severe cases, it may cause nausea, vomiting, and disturbances in consciousness, making the patient drowsy, stuporous, or even comatose. In such cases, the main treatment is to reduce the pressure inside the brain. Dehydrating agents, such as mannitol, can be used; however, mannitol mainly removes water from inside the cells and is more effective for cerebral edema than for hydrocephalus. Furosemide can be used to reduce the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid and may have some effect on hydrocephalus. However, the key treatment is likely to be surgical, such as lateral ventricular drainage, which can fundamentally resolve the problem of fluid accumulation but can also lead to complications like infections.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Can hydrocephalus heal itself?

Hydrocephalus often does not heal on its own and is generally classified into different types, such as symptomatic hydrocephalus and asymptomatic hydrocephalus, obstructive hydrocephalus and non-obstructive hydrocephalus, communicating hydrocephalus, and non-communicating hydrocephalus, among others. Relatively speaking, patients with obstructive symptomatic hydrocephalus usually exhibit a progressively worsening condition. Without timely and effective treatment, patients may experience significant headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, accompanied by motor dysfunction, difficulty walking, urinary and fecal incontinence, and other clinical manifestations. For these patients, early surgical intervention is advisable, as they often cannot heal on their own, and their condition will progressively worsen.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is hydrocephalus serious?

Hydrocephalus is relatively serious. When hydrocephalus occurs, it gradually affects the patient's motor functions of the limbs, causing weakness in one or both sides, difficulty in lifting, walking impairments, difficulty performing fine motor actions, and ataxia. It may even lead to frequent falls. Additionally, there are significant cognitive impairments, characterized by reduced intelligence levels, decreased computational abilities, and even certain degrees of language dysfunctions. Patients may also exhibit significant personality changes, such as feelings of anxiety, depression, apathetic expressions, and a dislike for communication and interaction with others.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Can fetal hydrocephalus be kept?

Whether fetal hydrocephalus should result in termination must be determined based on a specific analysis of the particular medical condition at that time. Fetal hydrocephalus is merely a manifestation of an illness. It is essential to understand the root cause of the hydrocephalus to make a clear decision regarding the options available. If the hydrocephalus is combined with cranial malformations or abnormalities in the cerebral gyri and sulci or other congenital development defects, in general, such conditions are not survivable even into adulthood. There is no possibility of survival, and even if surgery is performed later, it cannot provide an effective treatment. However, in cases where conditions such as spina bifida occur, with active surgical intervention, these can have a very positive prognosis. Therefore, it is crucial to clearly identify the specific medical condition at the time to determine the most appropriate course of action.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Hydrocephalus should be treated in the neurology department.

If you have hydrocephalus, it is recommended to visit the neurosurgery department at your local hospital and ask a neurosurgeon to assess your current condition. It is generally advised that patients undergo a cranial CT scan or MRI to determine the extent and severity of the hydrocephalus and to choose the appropriate treatment method. For static hydrocephalus, most patients do not exhibit clear clinical symptoms and generally do not require special treatment, regular monitoring is sufficient. For progressive hydrocephalus, surgical treatment is often necessary, and it is generally recommended that patients undergo ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. With surgical treatment, most patients can achieve satisfactory results.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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How is hydrocephalus treated?

Hydrocephalus is caused by the continuous increase of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system of the brain. There are two types of hydrocephalus: obstructive hydrocephalus and communicating hydrocephalus, each with different treatment methods. Obstructive hydrocephalus is caused by obstructions such as tumors or blood clots, so removing tumors or clearing blood clots can relieve the obstruction and treat the hydrocephalus. On the other hand, communicating hydrocephalus usually has no obstruction; it is primarily caused by excessive production or insufficient absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. A common treatment is ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, which diverts cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles to the abdominal cavity to treat hydrocephalus.