How long do babies live with hydrocephalus?
What is the life expectancy of a child who has hydrocephalus? Children often have a full life span if hydrocephalus is caught early and treated. Infants who undergo surgical treatment to reduce the excess fluid in the brain and survive to age 1 will not have a shortened life expectancy due to hydrocephalus.
What are the causes of obstructive hydrocephalus in infants?
What are the Causes of Obstructive Hydrocephalus?
- Head trauma.
- Stroke.
- Bleeding or clots in the brain (e.g., subarachnoid hemorrhage)
- Infections that affect the central nervous system (e.g., encephalitis or meningitis)
- Central nervous system tumors (i.e., those affecting the brain or spinal cord)
Can obstructive hydrocephalus be cured?
Hydrocephalus is a chronic condition. It can be controlled, but usually not cured. With appropriate early treatment, however, many people with hydrocephalus lead normal lives with few limitations.
Can babies with hydrocephalus lead normal lives?
There is no cure for hydrocephalus, but with timely diagnosis and treatment, children with hydrocephalus can lead normal lives. They will require close care from physicians, neurosurgeons and sometimes neurologists as well.
Does hydrocephalus ever go away?
Hydrocephalus is due to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cavities deep within the brain. Hydrocephalus is a condition of the brain where there is a pressure-induced deterioration of brain functions. It does not go away on its own and needs special treatment.
Can a baby be born with hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is often congenital, meaning babies are born with it, but infants and children can develop it as well. There is no one specific cause of congenital hydrocephalus. However, it may be linked to a genetic defect, or be the result of another disorder such as spina bifida or encephalocele (sac-like protrusions of the brain).
What causes brain surgery in children with hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is the most common reason for brain surgery in children. Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words “hydro,” meaning “water,” and “cephalus,” meaning “head.” What is pediatric hydrocephalus? The nervous system contains a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. Fresh cerebrospinal fluid is made continuously by the brain every day.
How are shunts used to treat hydrocephalus in babies?
Surgery usually involves placing a mechanical shunting device into the baby’s head to help drain the extra CSF from the brain and redirect the extra fluid to another part of the body to be absorbed. A common type of shunt is the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. This directs the fluid into the abdominal cavity.
Are there any genetic conditions associated with hydrocephalus?
In some babies the condition is genetic, such as in babies with congenital aqueductal stenosis. Other conditions, such as neural tube defects (like spina bifida ), are also associated with hydrocephalus.