What is cranial pressure? As a rule, with signs such as dizziness and headaches, a person is in no hurry to consult a specialist, since they are insignificant. This cannot be done. Because it is they who signal a possible increased cranial pressure. The manifestation of such an ailment in a child can talk about structural damage to brain tissue. For this reason, neurologists pay much attention to this diagnosis. The article will discuss the symptoms of cranial pressure in adults and children. In addition, here you can find methods of treating this ailment.
Cranial pressure - what is it?
This term refers to a quantitative indicator that reflects the strength of the effects of cerebrospinal fluid on brain tissue. Typically, cranial pressure should range from 101 to 150 mm. water Art. This is considered the norm. This indicator corresponds to 11-16 mm. Hg. Art.
If craniocerebral pressure (ICP) is not normal, then this indicates a developing pathology. In this case, only a specialist will be able to prescribe the only correct treatment.
How is ICP determined?
There are several methods that help you find this indicator. This can be done using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. There is still a method when a catheter is inserted into the lumen of the spinal canal. Then a pressure gauge is attached to it. It works by analogy with a mercury thermometer.
Children under one year old have an ultrasound scan of the brain. It is during this period of their life that the so-called "fontanel" is opened, which allows this type of examination to be carried out.
An ophthalmic examination is also prescribed. With increased craniocerebral pressure, there is an edema of the optic disc and blurred contours.
Usually, a specialist prescribes a particular examination method. Ultrasound is prescribed for young children, and magnetic resonance imaging for adults. Additionally, they are sent to an ophthalmologist. It determines the condition of the fundus.
What causes an increase in ICP?
There are several reasons why this indicator can be changed. So, with edema or inflammation, an increase in the brain occurs. As a result, cranial pressure rises. This occurs with hydrocephalus. With the last ailment, a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid is formed.
The presence of a tumor or hematoma in the cranial cavity, as well as intoxication, accompanied by an increase in blood content in the dilated vessels of the brain, are the causes of high ICP.
A number of diseases also lead to an increase in this indicator:
- benign intracranial hypertension;
- hydrocephalus;
- concussion and contusion of the brain;
- hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke;
- intoxication with fumes of toxic gases;
- inflammatory changes in meningitis and ventriculitis.
Common symptoms of the disease
Signs of increased ICP in children and adults are different. But there are a number of symptoms that are considered common.
These include a headache. It occurs mainly in the morning during awakening. It is localized in the occipital, temporal and frontal areas. Usually it has a crushing character.
People with this diagnosis complain of sweating and visual disturbances. The latter occurs due to swelling of the optic papilla. Patients also have a rare pulse, an increase or decrease in blood pressure, impaired attention and memory.
About signs of increased intracranial pressure in children
Symptoms of this ailment in infants may appear in the first hours after birth. They lead to complications.
If you know the main symptoms of cranial pressure in children, then you can start treatment on time and there will be no consequences.
Signs that make it possible to make the correct diagnosis are chin tremors, regurgitation during meals, an increase in the size of the head circumference. You should also pay attention to the fontanel. Its pulsation and bulging indicate an increased cranial pressure.
Still need to pay attention to the behavior of the child. Irritability or lethargy may indicate this diagnosis. But in order to confirm or refute your assumptions, you should contact a specialist. It is strictly forbidden to start an independent treatment.
Repeated vomiting, which does not bring any relief, indicates increased intracranial pressure.
In addition, oculomotor disorders and restriction of eyeball movements, visual impairment indicate this diagnosis.
With increased cranial pressure, symptoms may appear gradually. But there is another type of disease development. In this case, the symptoms of the disease occur suddenly. A violation of consciousness occurs up to a deep coma. In this case, there is a high probability of death.
On the signs of the development of the disease in adults
As mentioned above, this disease is considered very dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to know its symptoms. With increased cranial pressure, symptoms in adults develop gradually.
Headaches appear first. They usually occur in the morning. By nature they are oppressive and constricting. Unpleasant sensations most often occur when taking a horizontal position, coughing, over-bending the head. Such symptoms may additionally join the pain. These include head noise and nausea. The main difference between unpleasant sensations with increased intracranial pressure from a simple headache is that they do not disappear when taking analgesics.
The next most common is vegetative dysfunction syndrome. It is accompanied by increased salivation and asthma attacks. In addition, symptoms of cranial pressure in adults include fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure for 24 hours, impaired intestinal motility, dizziness, fear, drowsiness. Pain in the abdomen and heart also indicates this diagnosis.
Very rarely, increased cranial pressure is characterized by the development of an insulin-like condition. The latter poses a threat to human life. In this case, there are signs such as impaired speech function, impaired consciousness up to a coma, instability when walking. Indomitable vomiting, a decrease in strength in the extremities, dysfunction of the heart system, blood vessels and respiration additionally join them.
About the complications of the disease
In the presence of symptoms of cranial pressure in adults and the absence of appropriate treatment, death is possible.
Other complications of this disease are a violation of the mental type, hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, decreased vision. The last consequence can be developed to blindness.
In addition, another complication of cranial pressure is the infringement of the cerebellum in the large occipital foramen. In this case, the patient complains of respiratory failure and a decrease in strength in the limbs. Loss of consciousness may also occur.
For this reason, when symptoms of cranial pressure appear, you should consult a specialist. Only he can prescribe an appropriate course of therapy.
What are the ways to treat this disease?
In order to prescribe the necessary course of therapy, it should be established because of what the disease began to develop.
At the first stage of treatment of cranial pressure, the cause of the disease is eliminated.
If the disease arose due to intracerebral formation, then surgical intervention is prescribed in an expeditious manner. As a rule, with hydrocephalus, excessive secretion of cerebrospinal fluid is observed. In this case, shunting operations are performed.
At the second stage, a medical correction of the level of cranial pressure occurs. For this, drugs such as neuroprotectors, loop diuretics, osmodiuretics and diacarb are prescribed. This stage of treatment also includes taking hormonal drugs.
At the third stage, drug manipulations are performed. In order to reduce the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity, decompression craniotomy is prescribed.
The fourth stage is a diet. Only food in which the salt content is minimal should be included in the patient’s diet. As a rule, in this case, diet No. 10 is prescribed.
At the fifth stage of treatment, methods of hyperventilation and manual therapy are used.
With enhanced treatment, decreased cranial pressure may occur. Symptoms of this ailment are weakness and drowsiness, nausea and dizziness, as well as headaches. The latter have a growing character during head movements. The treatment of the disease in question in the article is complex.
About actions for detecting symptoms of a disease
If you have signs of increased intracranial pressure, you first need to calm down. You should know that at present there are many ways that can get rid of this ailment.
Then you need to contact a neurologist, a specialist will prescribe a series of examinations that can confirm or refute the diagnosis. If a disease is detected, the entire course of therapy and the recommendations of the doctor must be observed. It should be remembered that increased intracranial pressure is a dangerous ailment and, if untreated, can be fatal.