Per NINDs, the prevalence of hydrocephalus is around 1-2 per 1,000 babies born in the U.S. Shunt systems have to be watched carefully. Reading stories online probably wasn’t the best idea at the time. Hydrocephalus may begin while the baby is growing in the womb. A common cause of non-communicative hydrocephalus is the narrowing of the passage called the aqueduct of Sylvius. Hydrocephalus may also result in bulging fontanelles, or a bulging area at the soft spot at the top of the infant’s head. In some babies the condition is genetic, such as in babies with congenital aqueductal stenosis. But that’s okay! Causes of Hydrocephalus If your doctor suspects that your baby has hydrocephalus, he or she may order additional tests, including:

Noncommunicating hydrocephalus, also called "obstructive" hydrocephalus, occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked. There is no one specific cause of congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a difficult condition that affects newborn babies, even though it is quite rare. Hydrocephalus, or excess fluid in the brain, causes slightly different symptoms depending on the type of hydrocephalus and the age of the person affected. Experts estimate that 50 to 80 percent of babies with hydrocephalus will have another anomaly outside the central nervous system, and approximately a third will have an associated anomaly within the central nervous system. Babies born with hydrocephalus have enlarged heads, due to problems with the brain at a young age.

This typically causes increased pressure inside the skull.Older people may have headaches, double vision, poor balance, urinary incontinence, personality changes, or mental impairment.In babies, it may be seen as a rapid increase in head size. Hydrocephalus can occur either as a condition present at birth (congenital), or it can be acquired later in life. Most babies with hydrocephalus will have normal intelligence. This form of hydrocephalus is usually detected during routine ultrasound before delivery and includes the following causes: 3 4. Hydrocephalus is often congenital, meaning babies are born with it, but infants and children can develop it as well.

It is common in babies who have a myelomeningocele, a birth defect in which the spinal column does not close properly. In some cases, hydrocephalus may be diagnosed at birth or prior to birth. Spina Bifida. Well-baby visits This small pathway connects the third and fourth ventricles. Description Each year in Australia, one in every 1,000 children is born with hydrocephalus.

Your child might need more than one procedure. Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, is a clear liquid that circulates within the nervous system to … In them, hydrocephalus usually leads to bulging at the soft spot, increasing head size, and large scalp veins. The timing of diagnosing a child with hydrocephalus may depend on how severe the symptoms are, when problems first appear, and whether there were any significant risk factors during the pregnancy or delivery. Left untreated, hydrocephalus can cause severe disability, even death. The most obvious indication of hydrocephalus in children and infants is often a rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size.

Hydrocephalus from birth.

Just as it is with all children, babies with hydrocephalus will develop at their own pace. It occurs in approximately 1 out of every 2,000 live births. One important fact that we have learned is that hydrocephalus affects every person and every baby very differently. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that can lead to hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Pictures, in adults, babies and infants.

It can be caused by a condition such as spina bifida, or an infection the mother develops during pregnancy, such as mumps or rubella (German measles). It was from that point on that my husband and I would make it our mission to educate others on hydrocephalus.