What if there was hydrocephalus in newborns?

The birth of a baby is a great joy for the whole family. The happiest moments in the life of every woman are the first minutes after childbirth. It is the shrill cry of the newborn that gives the newly-mum a realization of a mission fulfilled in full. And, executed on a solid five. The kid says about his appearance: "Here I am, I was born!" And the happy mother is experiencing the most amazing moments in her life that can not be compared in importance with anything else.

The appearance of crumbs in the house brings not only joy. A kid from the very first days requires attention and care, this is a huge responsibility that parents place on themselves. Regular visits to the local pediatrician, constant weighing and all kinds of measurements will become an integral part of their daily life.

Careful monitoring of baby's health is necessary for timely diagnosis and competent treatment of the disease, if it is identified by a specialist.

To date, children are often diagnosed with increased intracranial pressure. There are many reasons for its occurrence: from a lack of fetal oxygen during pregnancy to meningitis and encephalitis. Among the most common causes - the violation of metabolic processes in the child's body, premature overgrowing of the fontanelles. In addition, doctors can diagnose a newborn hydrocephalus.

A terrible diagnosis

To hear at the next admission of a doctor such a diagnosis for the mother is a huge grief. But before giving in to panic, we try to deal with such a concept as hydrocephalus in newborns. Speaking in ordinary language is a dropsy of the brain. Heavy disease, as a result of which the head of a newborn increases in size;if it is found in a toddler, the skull remains the same size, as the bones become more durable.

Causes of hydrocephalus in newborns according to medical statistics, the most diverse. This is:

1. hydrocephalus of the brain in the fetus. Thanks to modern methods of diagnosis, this pathology is detected at the stage of pregnancy;
2. birth injury, which is often accompanied by intraventricular or intracerebral hemorrhage;
3. various tumors and malformations of the brain.

In turn, hydrocephalus of the fetus can be the result of various deviations in the development of the nervous system or transferred by a woman during pregnancy infectious diseases.

Attentive mother can consider the signs of hydrocephalus in newborns at the earliest stages. In this case, of course, you should immediately consult a doctor - neuropathologist, since to confirm the diagnosis or to calm( which is more likely) a terrified mother can only be an expert, after carrying out the relevant studies. Early diagnosis of a disease such as hydrocephalus in a baby - the symptoms of which parents can notice already in the first months of life of the crumbs, will increase the probability of successful treatment several times.

How does this ailment manifest itself?

The main signs of hydrocephalus in newborns:

1. frequent regurgitation, which can go into vomiting;
2. constant drowsiness of the baby or, conversely, increased excitability of the newborn;
3. convulsions resulting from hypertension of the muscles of the lower limbs;
4. a rapid increase in the size of the circumference of the head. This is the very first symptom by which a doctor can prescribe a dropsy in the newborn;
5. decrease in the baby's appetite. Frequent refusal of the baby from applying to the breast or a bottle with a milk mixture can also be a symptom of hydrocephalus in newborn babies;
6. bloating of veins on the head, a strong increase in the fetal areas due to the increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid, in other words, cerebrospinal fluid.

Brain hydrocephalus in newborns can not be determined solely on the basis of observations of the mother and examination by a neuropathologist, to confirm or exclude this pathology, a set of special examinations is required, which the specialist should appoint. Only qualified doctors and modern diagnostic methods can clarify the situation. That's why parents should not succumb to depression and draw themselves all kinds of horrors of the alleged illness in the child. The most important thing in this situation is the carrying out of all necessary examinations, appointed by a doctor.

Is there a way out?

In modern medicine, in particular, neurosurgery, the treatment of hydrocephalus in newborns is carried out through surgical intervention or conservative methods. The decision to choose one or another method of treatment should be made solely on the basis of the studies carried out. Timely recourse to medical care significantly facilitates the life of the baby and mother, and also significantly improves the chances of recovering the crumbs. If the doctors decide to treat the dropsy of the brain surgically, their essence will be to create conditions for the outflow of excessive cerebrospinal fluid. With conservative methods of treatment, the baby is prescribed various drugs, for example, diuretics or special hormonal drugs. The obligatory condition for the successful recovery of the child is compliance with the daily routine, complex and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Parents, faced with such a disease of crumbs, it should be remembered that even after the operation, the circumference of the baby's head will not decrease. Therefore, timely diagnosis carried out on the appropriate equipment in a medical institution is a guarantee that the disease will be prevented at the earliest stage of its development. However, despite the severity of this, most often, congenital disease, it is successfully treated. What can cause hydrocephalus?

Speaking about hydrocephalus syndrome, we should say about such a doctor's conclusion, as external hydrocephalus in newborns. In this case, an increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid outside the brain is noted, while the anterior section of the central nervous system itself may not be damaged. Treatment, appointed by a neurologist, consists in taking medications that promote the outflow of fluid, in addition, massage and electrophoresis can be prescribed.

Having considered the reasons and possible treatment options, one can not help but dwell on what this disease is fraught with a baby. Hydrocephalus in newborns, the consequences, which primarily depend on the degree of the disease, can be very dangerous. Most often, doctors talk about:

1. speech disorders;
2. increased intracranial pressure, which, in turn, leads to constant headaches;
3. visual impairment, right up to blindness;
4. delay the mental and physical development of the newborn: the baby will later learn to keep the head, sit;
5. epileptic seizures;

In addition, in case of late seeking medical help, a lethal outcome is possible. In conclusion, I want to say that for today the disease is successfully treatable, as a result of which the baby can avoid all sorts of complications.