Intracranial pressure in children is a common phenomenon today. Most of all dads and mothers in the world currently know about him. In the reception room of a neurologist, such conversations are conducted quite often. In order to diagnose intracranial pressure in children, the doctor simply needs to conduct an appropriate examination. However, what exactly does this specialist mean by this concept, it is not easy for an ordinary person to understand, since the very concept of "increased intracranial pressure in children" simply does not exist directly. The reason for this is that an increase in head pressure occurs for another reason. And this is just a definite consequence or sign of the development of another, serious disease.
Intracranial pressure is a special pressure that absolutely every person has. Depending on the conditions, it can change as well as blood pressure. For example, as a result of any psychological and emotional stress or at the time of defecation. In addition, at times when a small child sucks the mother’s breast, the pressure also rises, as the baby spends a huge amount of energy for this. A short-term increase in pressure, of course, does not require special treatment at all. In general, intracranial pressure is the so-called pressure located in the ventricles of the brain and spinal cord, fluid. This fluid is most often called cerebrospinal or cerebrospinal fluid. Its volume directly depends on age, the value of the volume changes slightly. It is worth noting that fifteen percent of this fluid is updated every hour.
As already mentioned above, if intracranial pressure rises, treatment is most often not required, since the causes of this process are natural. As for the pathological increase, it can occur in connection with a defect in parts of the brain, premature fusion of the fontanel in a child, a tumor or an infectious disease, for example, meningitis. In any case, this is only a symptom, but not an independent disease.
Symptoms of increasing the so-called ICP are fast head growth, rolling out of the eyeballs and unwillingness to drink, periodic vomiting or strabismus. These signs are more characteristic of infants. For the older generation of children, symptoms include persistent headaches, vomiting, mood swings and fatigue, cramps and mental retardation. Such signs are actually a huge amount. However, even if these signs are observed, this is not enough to determine increased intracranial pressure. The reasons for it can be identified only if a complete diagnosis of the brain. In infants, this is done using ultrasound. It is called neurosonography. As for adult children, tomography with examination of the fundus is necessary here. By the way, in children who suffer from ICP, an optometrist can see that the optic disc is swelling. It is for this reason that one cannot refuse to be examined by an optometrist. It is the word of this specialist that often becomes decisive. Measuring cerebrospinal fluid pressure is only possible with surgical intervention. For this, an intraventricular or lumbar puncture is taken . In addition to all this, every parent should know that at present in Russia the method of ECHO - encephalography is very popular. It is not reliable when measuring ICP.
Intracranial pressure in children and its increase requires identifying the causes that entailed this process. Most often, specialists carry out treatment that is associated with improving the nutrition and blood circulation of the child’s brain. In addition, massage, swimming and special physical education are considered effective in such a situation.