Quite often, doctors when examining young children tell parents that their child has increased intracranial pressure. Intracranial pressure in a child is not a diagnosis, but a consequence of certain diseases. What symptoms affect pressure in the head and can it be treated?
Intracranial pressure characterizes the pressure of the cerebral fluid located in the spinal canal and cerebral ventricles, as well as in the cranial bones, in the spine, between the zones of the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid or cerebrospinal fluid.
Fluid spaces and cerebral ventricles are connected by ducts, and cerebrospinal fluid constantly circulates through them. It is secreted in some brain departments, then flows through the ducts to other departments, where it penetrates into the bloodstream.
Intracranial pressure in a child can be compared with blood pressure, it happens in everyone and throughout life it rises and falls. For normal health, an indicator of the norm of intracranial pressure is very important, for example, in children it is customary to consider a pressure indicator in the range from 1 to 2 mm Hg, in an adult - from 5 to 7 mm Hg.
Causes
The most common causes of increased intracranial pressure are:
- a large number of allocated cerebrospinal fluid;
- poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid into the blood stream;
- poor patency in the circulation paths of the cerebrospinal fluid.
Any of the above reasons may arise as a result of:
- encephalitis or meningitis;
- hypoxia;
- a skull injury that has ever happened, for example, a birth injury;
- congenital abnormalities in the development of the central nervous system;
- serious poisoning.
Symptoms
Increased intracranial pressure in infants is quite dangerous. Since the child cannot always explain his well-being, it is difficult to detect a change in pressure. Also at this age, the cerebrospinal fluid content in the brain is unstable and the brain of the child does not have a final formation.
In case of untimely access to a doctor, the disease can go into a severe stage, the result can be mental retardation. In this case, the baby’s brain does not grow and develop, but, on the contrary, decreases.
The signs of intracranial pressure in a child are as follows:
- the child refuses to drink;
- rapid head growth;
- the appearance of strabismus;
- averting the gaze down, called the syndrome of the "setting sun";
- fontanel swelling;
- tearfulness;
- periodic occurrence of regurgitation and vomiting.
If such symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical advice.
Diagnostics
Intracranial pressure in a child is determined by examining the fundus. An additional study to establish the cause of pressure deviation is an ultrasound examination of the skull through the fontanel of the baby. Older children are prescribed tomography - magnetic resonance and computer.
Treatment
If the intracranial pressure in the child regularly deviates from the norm, then the treatment should not be independent - it should be carried out by a competent doctor after establishing the appropriate reasons.
Prescribe drugs to improve blood circulation and brain nutrition, in some cases - vascular and sedatives, as well as vitamins. To increase the effectiveness of drug treatment, acupuncture, swimming and general massage sessions are prescribed.
Exacerbation of the disease requires surgical intervention, in which an excess of cerebral fluid is removed from the cranial cavity. With the formation of a tumor - it is removed. In the presence of neuroinfection, antibiotics are used.
It should be remembered that no condition accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure can be treated with the help of homeopathy, traditional medicine, vitamins, massage and acupuncture. All this can be used in combination with the main treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Treatment should be carried out in an inpatient setting, only under strict medical supervision and if indicated.