Kids with water in the brain

Most often, hydrocephalus is treated surgically before the age of four months with the placement of a flexible tiny silicone tube called a shunt to bypass the blockage that is causing the build-up, or to create a better flow of CSF. Photo: AFP

Congenital hydrocephalus is a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain at birth, known quite commonly as “water on the brain”.

Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colourless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting the organs from injury.