Symptoms, causes, diagnostics and treatment of hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus of the brain is a dangerous disease that occurs when the mechanisms of fluid circulation in the brain are disturbed. This leads to the fact that the liquid exerts too much pressure on the soft substance of the brain, damaging its functions. Ultimately, this can lead to the onset of a complete physical inability of a person and in any case greatly reduces the quality of life.
Types of hydrocephalus of the brain
This disease is very diverse for its causes and forms. In a place where the fluid accumulates excessively:
- internal hydrocephalus - the ventricles of the brain,
- external hydrocephalus - subarachnoid space.
- general - a fluid accumulation occurs throughout the brain.
In the stages of the course of the disease it is common to distinguish:
- progressive hydrocephalus. In this case, the disease is in the active phase, intracranial pressure is increased. Progressive or decompensated hydrocephalus is mandatory treatment.
- With compensated hydrocephalus, the active phase of the disease has already passed, the pressure has returned to normal, but the ventricles of the brain have been enlarged. In most cases, treatment is not required.
- Subcompensated hydrocephalus is characterized by the fact that with normal intracranial pressure there is a danger of recurrence of the disease with its further development.
Also in a separate species are isolated atrophic hydrocephalus, which arises as a replacement reaction of the injured as a result of trauma and decreasing in the size of the brain. I distinguish atrophic hydrocephalus of mild, moderate and severe degree. In severe cases, the prognosis is unfavorable, but at the initial stage of the process it is often possible to stop its development and to achieve an increase in the volume of the brain with the displacement of fluid from the subarachnoid space.
Closed and open hydrocephalus
Immediate cause of excessive accumulation of fluid will always be some disruption in its production and circulation. Sometimes there is a violation of the circulation of the fluid, caused, for example, by a tumor. This occlusal hydrocephalus, in its treatment, the circulation is restored by removing the obstruction. Closed, or occlusive, hydrocephalus is divided into:
- monoventicular - in this case, a communication with one of the ventricles of the brain is disrupted,
- biventricular hydrocephalus occurs if both interventricular orifices of the anterior and middle ventricles 3 are occluded. The lateral ventricles are always enlarged.
- tri-ventricular hydrocephalus is accompanied by blockade of the brain drainage system or 4 ventricles, while all ventricles, water supply and interventricular apertures are dilated,
- tetraventical hydrocephalus also manifests as an expansion of all components of the ventricular system, it is characterized by occlusion of the median and lateral aperture of the 4 ventricles.
In the event that there are no obstacles to the circulation of the liquid, but the mechanisms for its production and absorption are disturbed, for example, an excessive amount of liquid is produced which the withdrawal system can not cope with, such a disease is called open cerebral hydrocephalus.
Causes of the disease
The cause of hydrocephalus can be a transmitted infectious disease, parasitic infection of the brain, traumatic brain injury, tumor, cerebral hemorrhage, that is, any pathological process in the brain. For example, cerebral hemorrhage may lead to an increase in the volume of the ventricles of the brain, in this case they speak of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. As a rule, it is necessary to perform a surgical operation for its treatment. This disease can often be found in premature babies who have had hemorrhage to the brain. The prognosis for such patients is usually unfavorable, but with a good surgeon's training and a successful combination of circumstances as a result of endoscopic surgery or traditional shunting, the child is saved.
Symptoms of the disease
The first signs of hydrocephalus appear 3 weeks after the development of the disease that provoked it. And even with its successful treatment, the symptoms of hydrocephalus do not disappear, but continue to develop, as the mechanisms of the circulation of the liquid can be restored by the organism independently only with a small degree of damage.
At the first stage, the disease may not manifest itself in any way. After a while, when pressure on the brain becomes significant, there is nausea, headaches and migraines, drowsiness, constant fatigue and overall poor health. In the case of these symptoms after a previous illness, which could cause hydrocephalus, you need to urgently consult your doctor.
Symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults during the transition of the disease to a chronic form are the appearance of signs of dementia, gait disorders, speech, trouble with urination. Often from write off to the age, thus missing the time when severe complications can be avoided.
Hydrocephalus in newborns is also manifested by the increased size of the skull, the upper part becomes much larger than the facial, and the illness is accompanied by a poor state of health, which the child shows with weeping. In this case, as a rule, treatment begins on time, and the onset of most severe consequences can be prevented.
Diagnosis is confirmed most often with MRI, after which treatment is prescribed. In severe cases, this will be a surgical operation to install shunts, but if the degree of development of the disease is small, for example, with mild external hydrocephalus, medication is prescribed.
Hydrocephalus in children
May have a variety of causes: from intrauterine and birth trauma to a previous infection. This is a serious disease that can hardly be treated. And in this case, his early detection is necessary to save the life and proper development of the child.
Most often, newborns can observe obvious external symptoms of hydrocephalus. But sometimes the disease may not appear. When ventriculomegaly, or - vicar hydrocephalus, the size of the head is not increased, but the lateral ventricles of the brain are more normal. If the anomaly was diagnosed in time, in 80% of cases the further development of the child will proceed normally.
Treatment of hydrocephalus
The first stage is always medication, it reduces intracranial pressure and prevents the development of complications. With a mild form of the disease, the body can independently restore the circulation of the liquid. If this does not happen, or the severity of the violations does not allow for such an opportunity, a surgical operation is prescribed.
The aim of the surgical intervention is to restore the system of fluid withdrawal from the brain. For these purposes, a shunt is usually installed, through which the liquor is discharged into the abdominal cavity, into the right atrium or into the ureter. Or, with the help of an endoscopic operation, the natural circulation of the fluid is completely restored. Such operations are being carried out more often.
This disease in childhood can lead to a strong developmental gap, and in the adult - to the onset of dementia and other serious consequences. Therefore, when symptoms of hydrocephalus appear, especially if you have suffered one of the diseases that often provoke its development, urgently consult a doctor.