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.

Can a child outgrow hydrocephalus?

In most cases, the implantation of a shunt will successfully control hydrocephalus, but shunts do not cure hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a lifelong condition. However, with proper treatment and maintenance, children with hydrocephalus can lead normal lives with few limitations.

What is the life expectancy of a child 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.

How do I know if my child has hydrocephalus?

Symptoms of Pediatric Hydrocephalus The most obvious sign of hydrocephalus in infants is a rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size. Other symptoms may include seizures, vomiting, sleepiness, irritability, or eyes that constantly gaze downward.

Does hydrocephalus shorten life expectancy?

Infants who undergo surgical treatment to reduce the excess fluid in the brain and survive to age one will not have a shortened life expectancy due to hydrocephalus. Adults who develop hydrocephalus typically have a shortened life span.

Can hydrocephalus be cured?

Hydrocephalus has no cure, but there are treatments that allow those affected to lead fairly normal lives with the condition. In some cases, it is possible for the blockage that is causing the fluid to build in the brain to be surgically removed. If the blockage is successfully removed,…

What causes water on the brain in adults?

In some cases, water on the brain is congenital, caused by defects in the structure of the brain which impair the circulation and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Other cases are acquired, caused by damage to the brain such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury. In both cases, the buildup of fluid can be clearly seen in…

What causes high pressure in spinal fluid?

Some important causes of increased pressure from cerebral spinal fluid and papilledema are brain tumors and brain infections, such as a brain abscess, meningitis or encephalitis . A significant proportion of people who are diagnosed with brain tumors have some evidence of papilledema.