Unfortunately, cerebral hydrocephalus in newborns is quite common. A similar pathology can be either congenital or acquired in the first weeks of the baby's life. In any case, it is worth knowing about the main symptoms of the disease, since the therapy started on time will help to avoid dangerous consequences.
Hydrocephalus of the brain in newborns and its causes
In fact, there are many reasons for the development of such a pathology. Dropsy of the brain is accompanied by an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in increased intracranial pressure.
Often, hydrocephalus of the brain in newborns is the result of a violation of normal intrauterine development. For example, inflammatory or infectious diseases carried by a woman during pregnancy (herpes, cytomegalovirus) can be attributed to risk factors. The use of certain drugs, as well as poisoning with dangerous toxins, can lead to the same violation. In some cases, intrauterine trauma occurs, which occurs, for example, when falling or hitting the stomach.
In some cases, dropsy develops after birth. In this case, risk factors are injuries to the baby’s head during childbirth, as well as meningitis, encephalitis, and some other diseases that appeared in the first days of the baby’s life.
Brain hydrocephalus in newborns: the main symptoms
In fact, the signs of the disease largely depend on how strongly the dropsy is expressed. As a rule, the disease is detected in the first months of life. The fact is that such a pathology is accompanied by a disproportionate head growth, which doctors notice with monthly measurements of the circumference.
As already mentioned, an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, which, of course, affects the well-being of the child. Such children are more restless and nervous, often cry, as they suffer from severe headaches. Symptoms include frequent regurgitation and refusal to eat.
Hydrocephalus is accompanied by swelling of large fontanelles. Due to the increase in pressure inside the cranium, compression of certain parts of the brain occurs. As a result of this, cramps, muscle weakness, vision problems, and some disorders of the nervous system appear. In the absence of timely treatment, dropsy can delay mental and physical development.
Brain hydrocephalus: treatment
If a few decades ago such a disease was considered incurable, then using the methods of modern medicine there is an opportunity to cope with it. Moderate internal hydrocephalus of the brain in some cases lends itself to conservative treatment. The baby is prescribed diuretics that help get rid of excess fluid.
However, in most cases, the only way out is surgery. Of course, such an operation is fraught with risk. But most often, doctors manage to bypass the ventricles of the brain and facilitate the outflow of fluid, thereby reducing intracranial pressure.