Hydrocephalus - Symptoms, Treatment And Causes

Hydrocephalus is defined as the buildup of fluids in the ventricles (cavities) which is deep inside in the brain. The excessive fluid increases the size of the cavities and puts immense pressure on the brain. A fluid known as Cerebrospinal fluid flows to the spinal column and the brain. The pressure of excessive cerebrospinal fluid can destroy the brain tissues and causes severe impairments in the brain. Hydrocephalus is common among older adults and infants. Hydrocephalus can be treated by surgery. This is performed to maintain and restore cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

In hydrocephalus, the skull is filled up with fluid thus causing the brain to swell. This is also known as Waterhead baby syndrome as the brain gets filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

These are the types of hydrocephalus:

• Congenital hydrocephalus: Hydrocephalus is a disease which is present at the time of birth and is the result of environmental factors and complex interactions of genetics. Most of the time, the cause of this disease is not determined. Congenital hydrocephalus is diagnosed before the birth of the baby through regular ultrasounds. If hydrocephalus is recognized in adults then the person might have this disorder since the time of birth and the disease is still considered as congenital and is referred to as compensated hydrocephalus.
• Acquired hydrocephalus: It is the type of hydrocephalus which most of the times is developed after birth due to neurological conditions. This disease can affect people of any age and is caused by a cyst, head trauma, brain tumour or due to the infection in the central nervous system.
• Benign External hydrocephalus : The other name for this type of hydrocephalus is also known as external hydrocephalus and is found at the time of birth and occurs when CFS is found outside the brain. The effects of benign hydrocephalus in infants are diagnosed when the head size increases but this go away itself by the age of 18 months.
• Normal-pressure hydrocephalus : This type of hydrocephalus is the non-communicating form and can happen to any of the ages but it is most common in older people. This may also result in infection, head trauma, tumour, any complicated surgery, subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Hydrocephalus is a dangerous disease and can damage the brain permanently, therefore, it is important to recognize the disease as early as possible and take medications properly.

Hydrocephalus is usually caused due to an imbalance between the cerebrospinal fluid absorbed into the bloodstream and the amount of cerebrospinal fluid produced.

Excessive cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities occurs due to:

• Obstruction: Hydrocephalus can also be caused when there is complete or partial obstruction of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from one cavity to the other space around the brain.
• Poor absorption: This is less common but it occurs when there is a problem with the mechanism of blood vessels which absorbs cerebral fluid. This occurs due to inflammation of the tissues of the brain mainly because of injury or disease.
• Overproduction: This is rare and occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid is created then it can be absorbed by the body.

If it is suspected that a person or a child has hydrocephalus then the doctor will perform a physical exam at first to check the symptoms. In children, the doctor checks sunken eyes, slow reflexes, the circumference of the head and bulging fontanel. Ultrasound will also be done by the doctor to take a closer look of the brain but these type of ultrasounds can only be done with the babies whose soft spot is still open.

MRI scans are also used to check the signs of excess CSF. Magnetic field and radio waves are used to make a cross-sectional image of the brain.

CT scans also help in getting the images of the brains of adults and children with the use of several X-rays which forms a cross-sectional image of the brain.

Hydrocephalus should be treated on time or it can become fatal but the damaged brain cannot be reversed back to normal. But the main goal is to prevent the brain to damage further. The treatment of hydrocephalus are as follows:

• Shunt insertion: In this kind of surgery, the shunt is inserted which is used as a drainage system made up of long tube with a valve thus helping the CSF to flow in the right direction and in the normal rate. In this one end of the tube is inserted in your brain and other ends in the abdominal or chest cavity. The fluid is drained out from the tube’s other end where it is more easily absorbed. The shunt is implanted permanently in the brain and is monitored regularly.
• Ventriculostomy: This procedure is performed as an alternative to shunt surgery. In this hole is made at the bottom of the ventricle or in between the ventricles thus allowing the CSF to drain out of the brain.

• Tumors or lesions on the spinal cord or brain can lead to hydrocephalus.
• Infections of the central nervous system like mumps or bacterial meningitis make you more prone to developing Hydrocephalus.
• Bleeding in the brain due to a head injury or stroke can lead to hydrocephalus.
• Traumatic brain injury also contributes to developing hydrocephalus.
• Hydrocephalus in infants can be caused due to abnormal development of the nervous system and infection.

Hydrocephalus Shunt is a medical device which is used to relieve the pressure that is caused by the brain due to the accumulation of fluids. Shunting is the surgical process of hydrocephalus which primarily treats the condition of excessive collection of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles.

Shunt surgery is not that much painful, two small tubes and a valve is placed under the skin. The patient might feel headache or tiredness after the surgery.

• A shunt is normally a delicate equipment which can normally be malfunctioned as it can be blocked or infected.
• If a shunt is blocked it can be very serious and leads to the excessive buildup of fluid in the brain and this can cause serious brain damage.
• If the shunt gets infected there can be symptoms like headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, irritability and sleepiness in the babies, high fever, tenderness and redness along the line of a shunt.

Till now there is no prevention or cure for hydrocephalus apart from brain surgery. If the disease is detected at an early age then precautions can be taken and early treatments can be done.

Hydrocephalus is considered as a disability because in most of the cases hydrocephalus is associated with spinal cord or problems in the brain, therefore, it can cause any difficulty in the motor functions of the human body.

Foods are the most important part of the human body's functioning. It helps us provide adequate nutrition for basic working, repair, and maintenance. So here is the list of food items that can help you deal with Hydrocephalus in a better way:

• Extra virgin olive oil: It helps you reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. It has also shown significant improvement in medical conditions like ischaemic stroke, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Oily fish: Fishes like salmon, herring, mackerel are great sources of omega-3 which help you boost the overall health of your body and brain.
• Deep colored fruits and veggies: Consumables like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, spinach, beetroot, beans are great sources of antioxidants. This helps us build better immunity to other diseases.
• The good fat: nuts, seeds, avocados, and leafy green vegetables are a great source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids. It helps you decrease the risk of depression and dermatitis.
• Dark chocolate and green tea: Another good source of antioxidants, but one thing an individual needs to keep in mind is that it has high sugar which can be harmful in excess quantities.

Summary: Foods with antioxidants, good fats, and omega 3 fatty acids are great to have for patients with Hydrocephalus.

The disease hydrocephalus is a condition in which the brain is filled with cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the cushions and spinal cord. If this is not treated in a limited time then it can also cause brain damage, loss in the mental or physical ability or even death.

Hydrocephalus can result in a lot of intellectual and physical disabilities if not treated on time. The complications depend on underlying development problems, severity of the symptoms and timeline of the treatment & diagnosis.