Hydrocephalus in a newborn: causes, signs and treatment

Hydrocephalus in babies is one of the most dangerous diseases in young children. The disease cannot be completely cured, but there is a cure. You need to prevent the disease right from the moment of pregnancy.

In early 2017, the story of a boy with hydrocephalus, Pham Duc Loc abandoned at the door of the pagoda, was carried by the monk and helped to treat it, surprised the online community. Previously, this disease seemed very little known. Hydrocephalus causes an abnormally enlarged head of a baby's head for a variety of reasons.

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is an excess of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing the brain and skull to swell. Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, providing nutrients to the brain.

Cerebrospinal fluid is mainly formed in the ventricular system by secretion of the choroid plexus. This plexus is located in the two ventricles, the third and fourth ventricles, but mainly in the lateral ventricles. From the ventricles, cerebrospinal fluid travels to various parts of the nervous system.

Causes of hydrocephalus in infants

The cause of your baby's hydrocephalus depends on the type of hydrocephalus that he or she has. Specifically:

1. Congenital hydrocephalus:

This happens when a baby is born for the following reasons:

Ventricular dilatation (Ventriculomegaly): This condition is larger than normal ventricles due to birth defects. This causes the flow of cerebrospinal fluid to become abnormal, causing brain hydrocephalus.

Stenosis: The tubes connecting parts of the ventricles are narrowed, thus blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Arachnoid Cysts: Cystic sacs that contain cerebrospinal fluid develop abnormally in the arachnoid layer (a membrane covering the brain). The arachnoid cyst is linked to the ventricles, affecting the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Spina bifida: This is a neural tube defect . This term describes an open bone spine or an incomplete spinal column. This causes the spinal cord and the rest of the nervous system to form abnormally. Excess cerebrospinal fluid is one of the abnormalities of this condition.

Infection during pregnancy: If a mother develops a serious infection during pregnancy, the risk of having a baby with hydrocephalus increases. Diseases such as measles, rubella, mumps ... can be related to hydrocephalus in children.

Hydrocephalus after birth

In addition to congenital condition, there are also babies born perfectly healthy but later develop hydrocephalus. This is due to:

Ventricular hemorrhage: Bleeding in the brain causes blood to flow into the ventricles, mixed with cerebrospinal fluid, increasing fluid pressure. This mainly occurs in premature babies and rarely occurs in full term babies.

Head trauma can cause bleeding in the ventricles to lead to hydrocephalus.

Infection: This condition can affect the nervous system, leading to a hydrocephalus.

Poor cerebrospinal fluid absorption: Cerebrospinal fluid flows through the left ventricles but the blood stream cannot absorb the excess fluid due to defects in the ventricles.

A hydrocephalus can happen at any time during a child's childhood.

Signs of hydrocephalus in babies

Your baby's head is abnormally swollen: This is the first and earliest sign. The diameter of the head increases with each day. The skull will be enlarged, swollen, soft, and felt to be felt on the head. In addition, this can cause a baby's head to become a little odd and irregular in relation to body size.

Cranial split: You can see cracks appear in different parts. These are the seams that connect the skull bone below the skin.

The baby's eyes look downward: They always look down without moving their eyes much.

Anorexia and vomiting: The baby will not eat or drink. Vomiting became common.

Discomfort and epilepsy: Infants become angry and suffer from frequent epilepsy.

Diagnosis of hydrocephalus encephalopathy

Your doctor will diagnose hydrocephalus through the following steps:

Check-up: The doctor will measure the baby's head circumference and check for abnormal growth. Your baby's eyes will also be checked to determine if the baby is looking downward.

Ultrasound: The doctor will do an ultrasound of the baby's head. The ultrasonic waves will create images of the brain to see if hydrocephalus has accumulated or not.

Computerized tomography (CT) scan, which uses many X-ray images to create three-dimensional images of the brain. It helps the doctor to accurately detect the location of swelling. The CT scan takes about 20 minutes and requires your baby to stay still. Therefore, the doctor may give the baby a sedative before the scan.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is a test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create three-dimensional images of the brain. This picture will accurately show every part of the brain. The MRI scan can take up to an hour depending on the device.

Can hydrocephalus be cured?

The only way to treat this disease is surgery. There is no cure for this disease. Your doctor will prescribe the following types of surgeries:

Shunt tube implant surgery: This is the most common treatment for babies with meningitis. Your doctor will use a long tube, like a catheter, made of silicone placed inside the ventricles where cerebrospinal fluid accumulates. This catheter redirects cerebrospinal fluid out of the brain. The body cavity for excess movement is usually the peritoneal cavity. In addition, the doctor will also attach a valve at a point near the ventricle. This valve controls the flow and pressure of cerebrospinal fluid out of the ventricles. Not only that, it also works to prevent backflow of cerebrospinal fluid into the ventricles when the patient changes position.

Endoscopy 3: The doctor will make an incision in the ventricles and insert a detector to look inside the ventricular system. This allows doctors to create a new pathway for cerebrospinal fluid flow. This method is less painful, but less effective for babies.

Preventing hydrocephalus in babies

There is no way to prevent hydrocephalus, although it was discovered quite early when the baby was still in the womb. Researchers are still finding ways to prevent and cure this disease. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk:

Periodic health examination during pregnancy. Never miss your doctor's appointment while you are pregnant and follow your ultrasound schedule closely. Early detection will increase your baby's chances of survival.

Vaccination during pregnancy . Consult with your doctor about vaccinations. Protect yourself from common diseases to reduce the risk that can affect the development of the fetus.

Protect your baby from head injury: Remove unsafe objects when your baby learns to crawl and walk. Use a crib with a guardrail or railing to prevent your baby from falling. When traveling by car, use a child safety seat.

Immunization for children . Protecting your baby from disease can reduce the risk of infections affecting the brain. Consult with your pediatrician about the vaccination schedule and follow it closely.

Hydrocephalus can last a lifetime, but most babies get it off. Remember to be alert to any complications after treatment and take your baby for regular checkups. Cerebral hydrocephalus is complicated but timely intervention will help your baby have a long and healthy life.