Manifestations of Hydrocephalus

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 24, 2025
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For hydrocephalus, it often manifests as noticeable enlargement of the ventricular system. Additionally, patients experience symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and dry heaves. Severe hydrocephalus can lead to significant increases in intracranial pressure, with patients suffering from severe headaches, dizziness, and even accompanied by papilledema, decreased vision, visual field defects, and optic atrophy. Furthermore, patients with hydrocephalus may exhibit significant cognitive dysfunction, characterized by reduced intelligence levels, diminished learning ability, computational skills, and memory loss. The physical motor functions of patients also gradually decline, presenting as unstable walking, a propensity to fall, and even possibly accompanied by urinary and fecal incontinence.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Early manifestations of infant hydrocephalus

Infant hydrocephalus initially manifests as an enlarged head, beginning from birth with progressive increase in head circumference that is disproportionate to body growth. Upon examination, bulging fontanelles, thin scalp, and clearly visible scalp veins can be observed, with widened or even separated sutures. Additionally, due to increased intracranial pressure, symptoms such as irritability, recurrent vomiting, refusal to eat, abnormal behavior, and seizures may present as early indicators.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Manifestations of Hydrocephalus

For hydrocephalus, it often manifests as noticeable enlargement of the ventricular system. Additionally, patients experience symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and dry heaves. Severe hydrocephalus can lead to significant increases in intracranial pressure, with patients suffering from severe headaches, dizziness, and even accompanied by papilledema, decreased vision, visual field defects, and optic atrophy. Furthermore, patients with hydrocephalus may exhibit significant cognitive dysfunction, characterized by reduced intelligence levels, diminished learning ability, computational skills, and memory loss. The physical motor functions of patients also gradually decline, presenting as unstable walking, a propensity to fall, and even possibly accompanied by urinary and fecal incontinence.

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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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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.

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
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How to relieve headache caused by hydrocephalus?

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.