Also called: Also called: Water on the brain
Hydrocephalus is the buildup of too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Normally, this fluid cushions your brain. When you have too much, though, it puts harmful pressure on your brain.
There are two kinds of hydrocephalus. Congenital hydrocephalus is present at birth. Causes include genetic problems and problems with how the fetus develops. An unusually large head is the main sign of congenital hydrocephalus. Acquired hydrocephalus can occur at any age. Causes can include head injuries, strokes, infections, tumors and bleeding in the brain. Symptoms of acquired hydrocephalus can include
- Headache
- Vomiting and nausea
- Blurry vision
- Balance problems
- Bladder control problems
- Thinking and memory problems
Hydrocephalus can permanently damage the brain, causing problems with physical and mental development. If untreated, it is usually fatal. With treatment, many people lead normal lives with few limitations. Treatment usually involves surgery to insert a shunt. Medicine and rehabilitation therapy can also help.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Hydrocephalus(American Association of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/hydrocephalus.asp
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Hydrocephalus
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/la_hidrocefalia.htm
- Facts about Hydrocephalus(Hydrocephalus Foundation, Inc.) - http://www.hydrocephalus.org/facts.htm
- Hydrocephalus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hydrocephalus/DS00393/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Hydrocephalus(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus.htm
- Hydrocephalus FAQs(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/faq
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Computed Tomography (CT): Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headct
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headct
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MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr
- Life Threatening Complications of Hydrocephalus Shunts and ETVs(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/learning/complications/
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Neurosurgery - What Is It?
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
- About Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus(Hydrocephalus Association) - Large PDF file - http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/AboutNormalPressureHydrocephalus-A_Book_for_Adults_and_Their_Families.pdf
- Adult Onset Hydrocephalus(American Association of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/adult.asp
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Dandy-Walker Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dandywalker/dandywalker.htm
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Hydrocephalus and Shunts in the Person with Spina Bifida(Spina Bifida Association of America) - http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2725875/k.BDDF/Hydrocephalus_and_Shunts_in_the_Person_with_Spina_Bifida.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2644947/k.6341/Spanish_Fact_Hidrocefalia.htm
- Hydrocephalus Diagnosed in Young and Middle-Aged Adults (SHYMA)(Hydrocephalus Association) - Large PDF file - http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/SHYMA.pdf
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Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/normal_pressure_hydrocephalus/normal_pressure_hydrocephalus.htm
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Craniosynostosis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/craniosynostosis/craniosynostosis.htm
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Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/whatisneurosurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/whatisneurosurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
- Brain Physiology(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/learning/brain-physiology/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hydrocephalus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hydrocephalus%22
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Genetics Home Reference: L1 syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=l1syndrome
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cranial vault expansion in the management of postshunt craniosynostosis and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18827653&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A case of a Dandy-Walker variant: the importance of a... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18796551&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The surgical management of pediatric hydrocephalus. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18596441&tool=MedlinePlus
- Hydrocephalus -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=hydrocephalus[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Hydrocephalus Glossary(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/glossary
- Hydrocephalus Physician Directory(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/physician-directories
- Hydrocephalus Association - http://www.hydroassoc.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Hydrocephalus Association Newsletter(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/education_support/publications/newsletters
- Precocious Puberty in Children Who Have Spina Bifida with Hydrocephalus(Spina Bifida Association of America) - http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2664425/apps/s/content.asp?ct=3822593
- Prenatal Hydrocephalus(Hydrocephalus Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/PrenatalHydrocephalus-A_Book_for_Parents.pdf
- Questions about Hydrocephalus for Your Child's Doctor(Hydrocephalus Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/QuestionsforDR_For_Parents.pdf
- College and Hydrocephalus(Hydrocephalus Association) - http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/FactSheet_College_&_Hydro.pdf
- Head and Brain Malformations - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/headandbrainmalformations.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Hydrocephalus is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/