Hydrocephalus

illuminatus (65)in #steemstem • 9 years ago (edited)

Derived from two Greek words which are "Hydro" which means water and "cephalus" which means head, Hydrocephalus refers to a condition which is characterized by a disturbance in the formation, flow or absorbtion of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in the accumulation of this fluid in the central nervous system.

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CAUSES OF HYDROCEPHALUS

Congenital defects: This may include spina bifida, infections during pregnancy, a condition in which the spinal column doesn't close, aqueductal stenosis,etc.
Intracranial Haemorrhage
Head Trauma
Brain Tumours
Toxoplasmosis, etc

Signs And Symptoms Of Hydrocephalus

The signs of Hydrocephalus differ among infants and older children. Some of the signs in infants include the following:

Reduced activity
Irritability
Seizures
Vomitting
A rapid increase in the size of the head
Reduced muscle tone and strength
Poor feeding

The signs in older children and adults include the following:

Blurry vision
Headaches, especially in the morning
Neck pain
Cognitive deterioration
Loss of bladder control
Personality change
Drowiness
Blurry vision
Nausea
Stunted growth

Management Of Hydrocephalus

Like several other conditions, Hydrocephalus can be fatal if not attended to on time. The management involves the insertion of a shunt(a form of drainage pipe) between the abdominal cavity and brain ventricles.

A baby who is recovering from a shunt surgry
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For short term relief in the case of emergencies, a ventriculostomy or extraventricular drain is employed.

In the long term management of Hydrocephalus, a cerebral shunt is used. A ventricular catheter is inserted in the cerebral ventricules, with the aim of bypassing the arachnoidal granulations which block the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid, thereby emptying the fluid into other cavities within the body such as the peritoneal vavity, gall bladder, pleural cavity and the right atrium.

Another method employed in the endoscopic third ventriculostomy which involves the surgical creation of an opening in the floor of the third ventricle, thereby allowing the cerebrospinal fluid to flow to the basal cisterns.