5 Symptoms and Causes of Hydrocephalus

Any sort of excess fluid in your brain can cause serious damage to intellectual, physical, and developmental health, and hydrocephalus is no exception.

Medical director Aizik Wolf, MD, FACS, and our team at Miami Neuroscience Center want you to understand five of the symptoms and causes of hydrocephalus so you know what to look out for in order to seek proper treatment and care for your brain.

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when there’s a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid flows through your brain to offer protection, provide nutrients, and remove any waste. 

But if there’s an abnormal amount of cerebrospinal fluid present, it can put pressure on your brain and cause damage to the tissues and function of your brain.

Hydrocephalus is most common in infants and adults over the age of 60, although it’s possible to occur at any age. Some cases of hydrocephalus are present at birth (congenital hydrocephalus) while others can develop later (acquired hydrocephalus).

Five causes of hydrocephalus

There are a variety of reasons hydrocephalus can occur, but they differ depending on if your condition is congenital or acquired. 

Risk for congenital hydrocephalus is high if certain health conditions are present including:

• Spina bifida
• Aqueductal stenosis

Underlying genetics play a huge role in the development of these ailments that have the potential to lead to congenital hydrocephalus.

In the case of acquired hydrocephalus, any of the following could be a risk factor:

• Brain tumor
• Head injury
• Meningitis

Acquired hydrocephalus can also happen as a result of a brain bleed or an infection of the nervous system.

Five symptoms of hydrocephalus

The signs of hydrocephalus are different depending on how old you are. Infants, children, and adults usually have varying symptoms, though there are a few that can overlap between adults and children, including:

• Seizures
• Headaches
• Bladder incontinence
• Mood and personality changes
• Leg weakness

In infants, you’ll need to look out for sudden growth in head size, excessive sleeping, and difficulty with eating. 

All of these causes and symptoms are good indicators that you or your child might be struggling with hydrocephalus. Always seek medical attention for hydrocephalus since this condition can have serious complications and even be fatal if left ignored and untreated. 

If you think you or your child needs diagnostic testing to see if hydrocephalus is what’s causing health issues, call Miami Neuroscience Center in South Miami, Florida, at 786-871-6856 or use our online scheduler to request an appointment with us today.