Question
Doctor, starting last week, I’ve noticed nystagmus. Some people say it might be pediatric hydrocephalus. How can it be diagnosed?
Answer
Compared to adults, the risk of pediatric hydrocephalus varies due to the patient’s age of onset. In infants with acute hydrocephalus, symptoms of intracranial hypertension are usually quite obvious. The skull is cracked, the fontanelle is filled with fluid, the scalp becomes thin, the scalp veins are clearly visible, and there is a livid appearance. When the head is exposed to strong light, the skull emits light. At the top of a percussion instrument, a solid drum sound is known as the Macewen sign. Affected children are easily irritable, have a pale expression, poor appetite, and continuously emit short and abnormal cries. The two eyes are in a downward gaze position, and the upper eyelids do not droop. The lower part of the eyes sinks below the eyelid margin, with some cornea located below the zygomatic margin. Above, the superior conjunctiva turns white, also known as the sunset phenomenon.