Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus is a disease in which the cerebrospinal fluid accumulates and causes the head to enlarge. This condition usually causes brain damage in children, which is the result of head enlargement in infants or movement and control disorders in adults. It is one of the things that can lead a doctor to diagnose a disease called hydrocephalus. accident or due to aging and subsequent disorders, read the following article to the end.... ### What causes hydrocephalus? There are three main reasons for the occurrence of this disorder, and all three causes the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, which are located deep in the brain and put pressure on other parts of the brain. The first and most common cause is obstruction in the passage of the cerebrospinal fluid. It occurs mostly in babies and people over sixty years old. According to the cases mentioned in the previous paragraph, it can be said that the cause of obstruction or inflammation or excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid can be caused by the following conditions. Of course, in most cases, the cause of this complication is unknown.. but the following are among the cases that can cause it to occur... such as: - Abnormal development of the nervous system - Premature delivery, which increases the possibility of bleeding in the cerebral ventricles.... - Diseases that cause inflammation of the brain tissue of the fetus during pregnancy, such as measles or syphilis.... The first thing noticed in babies is the abnormally large head with bulging cerebral vessels, which can happen quickly... so that it creates a sunset-like pose.... Other side effects include nausea and vomiting, drowsiness and lethargy, irritability, seizures, poor nutrition, and muscle weakness. In elderly people, due to the formation of the skull and the closing of its chamber, the accumulation of fluids and the pressure it puts on the brain causes the brain to shrink, and as a result, movement, control and cognitive disorders occur, such as the following: - Loss of urinary control - Weakness of memory and gradual loss of other cognitive skills - The way these people walk is like Parkinson's patients and they take short steps with their feet close together... - Loss of balance and body coordination... ### Symptoms in children and young people As mentioned, this disease is more common in infants and the elderly, but it can also occur in other age groups. In children, headaches, diplopia, abnormal eye movements, head enlargement, nausea and vomiting, weakness and imbalance, anorexia, urinary incontinence, personality disorders and academic failure, and even in middle-aged people, headaches can occur. In middle-aged people, headaches can occur. Urinary incontinence and cognitive impairment, which can affect a person's performance at school or work, are more common... ### Risk factors for hydrocephalus in adults A brain or spinal cord tumor or lesion, infections such as meningitis or mumps that involve the central nervous system, and cerebral hemorrhage that occurs as a result of hemorrhagic stroke or injuries and accidents are among the risk factors of this disease in adults... ### Diagnosis The doctor can diagnose the disease based on the patient's symptoms, physical and neurological examinations and imaging such as CT scan and MRI of the brain... ### hydrocephalus treatment Treatments include major surgical treatments and unusual non-surgical treatments. In the few cases where hydrocephalus is mild, hydrocephalus can be controlled by eliminating the underlying infection, or by taking drugs that reduce cerebrospinal fluid, such as acetazolamide, so that the subcutaneous space is not needed and is not placed at the end of the skin.. And in endoscopy, which can be done in some people, the doctor simultaneously inserts the endoscope camera into the brain and sees inside it, which creates a hole in one of the cerebral ventricles or between two cerebral ventricles in order to surgically remove the excess fluid.. Side effects? Yes; Unfortunately, both of these surgical methods provide the possibility of problems due to their invasiveness. For example, the shunt system may not be able to remove excess fluid well due to mechanical problems, infection, or blockage. Also, although endoscopy is newer than this method, it carries risks such as bleeding and infection. Be sure to visit medical centers or special clinics once in a while and check the child in terms of things such as head size, overall body growth, muscle tone, coordination of body parts, skeletal ability and the senses of sight, hearing or touch.. According to the Medicine Net article, the chance of survival in untreated hydrocephalus is poor and almost 50% of affected babies die before reaching the age of four and 80% of them die before reaching the age of puberty... According to two studies, treatment in cases Hydrocephalus unrelated to brain tumor can increase the chances of survival of patients. #9 Is the disease dangerous? Yes; And if it is not treated, it is fatal in 50% of cases... Those who did not treat their disease and still survive, most likely have brain damage and physical disability... ### Is it possible to live with hydrocephalus disease? As mentioned, there is no cure for this disease, but with the available treatments, it is possible to create a normal life for the person as much as possible. Of course, it should be said that even if the primary cause of the disease is removed, it may still be necessary for the patient to be under the supervision of a doctor and check the condition of the cerebrospinal fluid. So one operation may be enough for someone and another person may need several operations throughout the year... ### Is this disease hereditary? Congenital hydrocephalus that is present at birth seems to be related to some genetic defects that can be transmitted from one or both parents, but this relationship has not been fully investigated. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hydrocephalus... https://www.sciencedirect.com/... https://www.uclahealth.org/mattel/pediatric-neurosurgery/hydrocephalus-faqs