Hydrocephalus: When there is too much fluid in the brain

Hydrocephalus in babies can cause their head to become bigger as their skull has not completely closed yet. — Filepic

My friend has been having seizures recently and was very worried. He went to the hospital, and they put him through a CT (computed tomography) scan. He was told that he has hydrocephalus. What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is a disorder caused by the build-up of fluid in the cavities (or ventricles) deep within your brain.

This excess fluid increases the size of your ventricles.

This can impinge upon normal brain tissue and exert pressure on many parts of your brain.

This then stops your brain from functioning normally.

Wait. I have fluid in my brain? You mean blood?

Yes, you do, and it is not just blood.

Your brain has four ventricles, which are actual cavities.

They are linked with one another and filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

These ventricles are located within your brain tissue.

The brain ventricular system is composed of two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct and the fourth ventricle.

Inside these ventricles are choroid plexuses, which produce your CSF.

Your CSF not only fills the ventricles, but also your brain’s subarachnoid space.

It is constantly being produced and reabsorbed.

What do I need this CSF for?

CSF is very important for normal functioning.

It is an ultra-filtrate of your blood plasma, and is also found in your spine.

It provides buoyancy to your brain tissues, protection to cushion them from shock or injury (as much as possible), and chemical stability.

It also helps in nourishing the brain, removing waste from the brain, and preventing lack of blood flow to the brain.

It flows throughout your brain’s ventricles and bathes your spinal column.

If this is good fluid, then why is it harmful in hydrocephalus?

Too much of anything is not a good thing.

Other than impinging on your brain tissues and causing many complications, hydrocephalus can progress to death if this pressure on your brain is not relieved.

It can result in intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.

But if it is diagnosed, arrested and treated, most patients can live an almost normal life.

How will I know if I have hydrocephalus? Isn’t it something that happens only to babies?

Actually, no. Hydrocephalus can happen at any age.

It does, however, occur more frequently in infants and adults over the age of 60.

It can be difficult to diagnose because any brain disorder can cause the same type of symptoms.

However, in infants, hydrocephalus can result in an unusually large head.

And if you press against the soft spots in the infant’s skull, it can feel tense or bulging.

The baby can also exhibit vomiting, abnormal sleepiness or sluggishness, irritability, an inability to feed well, or seizures.

In severe cases, the baby’s eyes can be fixed downward due to the intense pressure.

This is known as “sunsetting” of the eyes.

Will older adults have this too?

Infants cannot tell you what they are feeling.

So you have to be on the alert if they cannot feed well or are irritable.

But adults can tell you what is wrong.

Even if they won’t tell you what is wrong, you can observe it for yourself in a loved one or a friend.

Affected adults over 60 years of age commonly experience:

• Frequent urges to urinate, which can also be a symptom of enlarged prostate problems in males.
• Memory loss, which can also sometimes be confused with the start of dementia.
• Difficulty walking, which is often noticed as a shuffling gait or a feeling that your feet are stuck.
• Poor coordination.
• Poor balance.

Other symptoms, which may be more commonly observed in patients below 60 years of age, include:

• Headache.
• Vision problems.
• A decline in thinking, focus and memory, which may be manifested in issues on the job.

It is very difficult to pinpoint hydrocephalus by symptoms alone, as these symptoms can also be indicative of many other brain disorders.

But one thing for sure is that you should immediately seek help from a medical professional for any suspected brain disorder.

Is there any treatment for hydrocephalus?

In many cases, the cause of hydrocephalus is unknown, so we can only treat the hydrocephalus itself.

A shunt will be inserted into one of your ventricles.

One end of the tubing is inside the ventricle, which then drains under your skin to another part of the body, e.g. your abdomen or one of your four heart chambers.

Here, the excess CSF can be better absorbed.

You will need this shunt for the rest of your life.

Another treatment is to make a hole in one of the ventricles to enable the CSF to flow outside your brain.

You will need to monitored by your doctor for the rest of your life.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.