General Information About Hydrocephalus
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Commonly known as 'water on the brain', it is the condition where the clear fluid that nourishes and protects the brain becomes blocked and accumulates in the channels, compressing the brain tissue outward (against the skull).
Because babies' skull bones have not yet fused, the fluid pressure inside makes the head grow. Rapid and abnormal growth in head circumference, prominent veins on the scalp, and downward deviation of the pupils (setting sun sign) are typical symptoms.
In adults, the skull cannot expand; therefore, the fluid inside crushes the brain tissue. Previous brain hemorrhages, meningitis, tumors, or age-related impairment of fluid absorption (Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus) are among the causes.
It is an insidious type, especially seen in people over 60, where the pressure does not rise significantly but the brain fills with water. The patient may be mistaken for having Alzheimer's; it presents with symptoms of forgetfulness, urinary incontinence, and walking without being able to lift their feet from the ground (magnetic gait).
In babies, it is detected by routine head circumference measurements and Ultrasonography performed through the open fontanelle. In children and adults, it is diagnosed by seeing enlarged fluid chambers on a Brain CT (Computed Tomography) or MRI scan.
There is no medical (drug) treatment; the only solution is surgery. A thin silicone tube (Shunt - VP Shunt) is placed to transfer the excess water from the brain to the abdominal cavity. In suitable patients, drainage is achieved without a shunt by entering with a camera and creating a new opening (Endoscopic Ventriculostomy).
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
