The term hydrocephalus is used when fluid accumulates in the cavities of the brain or skull.

 

 

Around 500ml of cerebrospinal fluid is produced every day, which washes around the brain and spinal cord. If the path of the fluid is restricted or blocked, the fluid accumulates and the pressure in the brain increases.

 

The causes of hydrocephalus

 

Excessive tissue growth

Haemorrhage

Inflammation

Accident

Overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid due to brain tumour

Alcohol abuse

Extreme malnutrition

Parkinson's disease

 

0.1% of all newborn babies are born with hydrocephalus. The soft brain of a premature baby is particularly vulnerable because the growing bones of the skull expand under the pressure of the fluid, resulting in the characteristic enlargement of the head. The causes of hydrocephalus in newborns are haemorrhage in the brain, inflammation leading to scarring and thus blockage of the fluid, congenital disorders, an injury during birth or a viral infection in the womb.

 

How to treat hydrocephalus

 

Hydrocephalus must be treated immediately to avoid permanent brain damage. In babies, hydrocephalus usually leads to death if it is not treated in time.

Milder cases are treated with medication that inhibits the production of cerebrospinal fluid. In most cases, however, an operation is necessary in which the fluid is diverted into the body through an inserted tube.