Hydrocephalus is commonly known as ‘water on the brain’. This ‘water’ is actually a fluid produced in the cavities in the brain, which circulates around the brain and the spinal cord to protect them, and is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Hydrocephalus occurs when for some reason the fluid isn’t absorbed into the blood so it collects inside the brain cavities, causing pressure on the brain. In babies, whose skull bones aren’t fixed together, this makes their heads slowly enlarge. In older children, whose skulls can’t expand, the pressure can cause damage to the brain.
What causes it?
Various things can cause a baby to be born with hydrocephalus. In most cases it is a
result of something going wrong with the baby’s development in the womb. Often, there
is no identifiable reason for this happening. Hydrocephalus can be connected with spina bifida. Some children with cerebral palsy have it too. It can also be a problem in premature babies.
Hydrocephalus can be detected antenatally by an ultrasound scan.
Looking after a child with hydrocephalus
A child with hydrocephalus can, on the whole, lead a normal life as long as the condition is treated early, before it has had a chance to cause any damage to the brain. (Some doctors try and treat it before the baby is born.) If it is not diagnosed and treated soon enough, it can cause various disabilities affecting, among other things, intelligence, language skills, movement, hand-eye co-ordination and eyesight. It can also be fatal.
The usual treatment is for a thin tube (or ‘shunt’) to be inserted into the child’s brain to drain the fluid into another part of his body – often the abdomen - where it can be absorbed. The tube needs to be replaced with a longer one as the child grows, but there is usually no need for any other treatment, unless the tube becomes blocked or infected. The child isn’t likely to have any other special care needs unless the hydrocephalus is associated with another condition like spina bifida or cerebal palsy.
If you’d like to find out more about hydrocephalus, go to the Association for Spina Bifida and
Hydrocephalus site which has links to other sites.
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