Causes of hydrocephalus

Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
Updated on February 19, 2025
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There are many causes of hydrocephalus, and it is important to make specific judgments based on the circumstances. In some infants, congenital hydrocephalus can be caused by intracranial birth injuries, which occur during the birth process and lead to intracranial hemorrhaging. It can also be due to congenital developmental abnormalities, such as anencephaly or spina bifida. In adults, hydrocephalus can be caused by intracranial tumors, such as choroid plexus papillomas, which overproduce cerebrospinal fluid. Others might develop hydrocephalus due to blockages caused by blood clots, such as cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. There are also cases where hydrocephalus can occur alongside chronic conditions like subdural hematoma or epidural hematoma, depending on the specific clinical presentations of the patients.

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Neurosurgery
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Symptoms of hydrocephalus in children

For pediatric hydrocephalus, a range of specific symptoms and signs will appear. For instance, children may repeatedly complain of headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, accompanied by a strong sense of vertigo. Through physical examination, it can be found that the head circumference of the child is significantly larger than that of normal children, with the anterior fontanelle full and bulging. Special physical examinations may reveal the presence of a sunset sign or a cracked pot sound. In addition, some children may exhibit certain levels of cognitive dysfunction, lower intellectual development, significantly lagging behind peers, and they might also show instability in walking, swaying back and forth, prone to falling, or even experience urinary and fecal incontinence.

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Can hydrocephalus be treated?

Hydrocephalus can be effectively treated. Patients with hydrocephalus should first visit their local hospital for a cranial CT scan, and consider undergoing an MRI if necessary, to determine the primary causes and severity of the hydrocephalus and decide on the next treatment steps. For patients with underlying diseases, proactive treatment should be targeted at the cause, and effective surgical removal should be considered for intracranial space-occupying lesions. Patients with resistant hydrocephalus are advised to undergo regular check-ups and follow-ups, and for those with progressive obstructive hydrocephalus where the ventricular system is gradually expanding, surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
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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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Symptoms of hydrocephalus

For patients with hydrocephalus, it often leads to a series of symptoms and signs. For example, patients may experience mild cognitive impairments, manifesting as obvious memory loss, reduced intelligence, and weakened orientation ability in terms of time, space, and person recognition. In addition, most patients also suffer from motor dysfunction, showing symptoms like weakness in one or both legs, difficulty walking, unstable gait, and a tendency to fall. Some patients might even experience changes in emotion and personality. As the condition of cerebral hemorrhage gradually progresses, patients may exhibit symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.

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Causes of hydrocephalus in infants

The occurrence of hydrocephalus in infants involves congenital factors, including poor brain development caused by exposure to medications, radiation, rays, and viral or bacterial infections during the embryonic stage, leading to hydrocephalus. Infant hydrocephalus also includes some acquired factors, such as birth injuries occurring during delivery, and post-birth conditions like inflammation in the brain, tumors, or arachnoid cysts. These conditions can lead to excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid, impaired circulation, or insufficient absorption, resulting in hydrocephalus.