Hydrocephalus is a disorder in which there is the accumulation of fluid inside the skull, which eventually causes the brain to swell. The fluid, in this case, is the cerebrospinal fluid. This condition leads to an increase in the pressure inside the skull. Some of the common signs and symptoms of this disease include double vision, headaches, urinary incontinence, changes in personality, mental instability and so on. The symptoms are usually different in babies. They do present with an increase in the size of their head. Other signs and symptoms may also include the development of seizures, vomiting, abnormal sleep behavior and so on. This disease usually occurs as a result of birth defects, and might also develop as the individual grows. Other conditions associated with this disease include neural birth defects, meningitis, traumatic injury of the brain and so on. There are different types of hydrocephalus, with various causes. Physicians diagnose this disease by evaluating the complaints, and the symptoms of the patient. In addition, further tests such as imaging tests might also be carried out. It’s mostly treated by surgery. However, this might come with complications. Some of the common complications of the surgical placement of a shunt system include infection, obstruction, mechanical failure and so on. Research is ongoing, on how stem cells can be used to treat this disease.
What Are The Causes Of Hydrocephalus?
The cerebrospinal fluid is normally produced by the tissues around the ventricles of the brain. This fluid is mainly absorbed into the blood vessels, in the tissues that surround the brain. This is how the fluid level in the central nervous system is maintained. However, hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance in the level of this fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid has different functions. Some of the functions of the brain include;
- Helps to protect and cushion the brain from any form of mechanical injury.
- Helps to eliminate the metabolic waste products
- It also helps to make the brain buoyant. This keeps the brain afloat within the brain box.
- The flow of the cerebrospinal fluid within the brain also helps regulate and normalize the intracranial pressure.
Hydrocephalus occurs mainly because of the following reasons;
- Obstruction: Obstruction is one of the most common causes of hydrocephalus. It occurs when there is a blockage to the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid from one ventricle to another, inside the brain. An obstruction would lead to the swelling of the brain.
- Overproduction of the cerebrospinal fluid: The overproduction of the cerebrospinal fluid can occur as a result of different reasons. It mostly occurs when more cerebrospinal fluid is produced than it is used.
- Low absorption: This occurs when the cerebrospinal fluid is poorly absorbed by the blood vessels in the brain. This might occur as a result of the inflammation of the tissues of the brain, or due to brain injuries.
As earlier mentioned, this disorder mostly occurs congenitally, but can also be acquired later in life
What Are The Early Signs and symptoms Of Hydrocephalus?
The signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus largely depend on the age the disorder starts. Below are some of the signs and symptoms of the condition based on the age of the patient;
- In Infants: Some of the common signs and symptoms in an infant affected with hydrocephalus includes the following;
- A big sized head: Infants with this disease usually present with a large sized head. This could be due to any of the reasons explained above, such as obstruction, or the low absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.
- Rapid enlargement in the size of the head
- Persistence of the head fontanelle.
- Seizures: This is one of the common symptoms in infants affected by hydrocephalus.
- Poor growth: This condition also leads to a reduction in the development of the infant.
- Reduced tone and strength of the muscles.
- Sleepiness: Infants might sleep for long hours, and remain relatively inactive.
- Adults: The signs and symptoms presented by adults are different from those presented by infants. Below are some of them;
- A headache
- Tiredness
- Affected vision
- Memory problems
- Urinary incontinence
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Difficulty walking: This tends to occur more in older adults.
When Is It Important To See A Physician?
It’s important to consult a physician if you notice any of the following sign and symptom.
For infants and toddlers;
- Seizures: Parents should immediately consult a physician if they notice that their infant or toddler present with a seizure. The doctor can correctly evaluate and diagnose the disease, and also provide treatment.
- Respiratory problems: Affected infants might find it difficult to breathe.
- Frequent vomiting: Urgent medical help should be gotten. Asides that the baby won’t be able to eat, the patient would also become more likely to develop dehydration.
- Difficulty feeding: Babies affected with hydrocephalus usually finds it difficult to feed and suck.
What Are the Risk Factors Of Hydrocephalus?
Some of the factors that increase the risk of hydrocephalus include the following;
- Ventricular bleeding: Bleeding in the ventricles can lead to the development of hydrocephalus. This is more prominent in newborns.
- Infection in newborn: Fetus exposed to infections, during pregnancy might experience the inflammation of the tissues of the brain. Examples of infections that could happen include syphilis and rubella.
- Poor development of the central nervous system: The poor or abnormal development of the central nervous system can lead to the obstruction of the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.
- The trauma of the brain
Complications Of Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus can lead to the development of various complications. Some of these complications include;
- Impairment of the intellectual development of the patient.
- Reduction in the physical development of the affected person, especially infants.
Stem Cell Treatment Of Hydrocephalus
It is now accepted that fetal-onset hydrocephalus is more than a disorder of CSF dynamics. It is also a brain disease. Recent studies have shown that hydrocephalus and abnormal neurogenesis, observed in both mutant animals and human hydrocephalic fetuses, share a common history. There is the hope that neural stem cell can be used in the treatment of hydrocephalus in the future.
References
Hydrocephalus 2017, the Ninth Annual Meeting of the International Society for Hydrocephalus and CSF disorders (Hydrocephalus Society). (2018). Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, 15(S1).
Lew, S., Matthews, A., Hartman, A. and Haranhalli, N. (2012). Posthemispherectomy hydrocephalus: Results of a comprehensive, multi-institutional review. Epilepsia, 54(2), pp.383-389.
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