Question
Doctor, what are the causes of pressure on the fourth ventricle in pediatric hydrocephalus?
Answer
Initially, when I discovered pressure on the fourth ventricle, I didn’t pay much attention and didn’t undergo any checks or treatment. However, now I am worried that it might be caused by pediatric hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by excessive secretion or circulation and absorption obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to an increase in intracranial cerebrospinal fluid volume, causing dilation of the ventricular system or subarachnoid cistern. The symptoms of pediatric hydrocephalus can vary with the age of the child, primarily manifesting as irritability, developmental delay, headache, vomiting, drowsiness, epilepsy, and possibly symptoms such as an increased head circumference, a high-tension fontanelle, difficulty in upward gaze, nipple edema, and abduction myopia. Typical symptoms include headache, vomiting, blurred vision, papilledema of the optic nerve head, occasional diplopia, dizziness, and epilepsy seizures.