Question
Recently, the child has been experiencing a loss of appetite, no desire to eat anything, poor sleep at night, lack of energy, and an unknown sensation of separated sutures. What tests are needed for pediatric hydrocephalus?
Answer
For infants, the standard for diagnosing hydrocephalus is an abnormally large head, with head circumference not being the primary indicator. Regular measurement of an infant’s head circumference can help in early detection of hydrocephalus and in diagnosing and treating it promptly before typical symptoms appear. Typical symptoms include a small head, sunken eyes, often with strabismus. The scalp is bright and tense, the forehead veins are engorged, and the sutures and suture lines gradually increase in size. Due to daily subtle changes, parents may not notice these abnormal signs. The disease progresses progressively, known as active hydrocephalus, and many infants will die if no measures are taken. The natural course changes to static hydrocephalus, manifested as intellectual disability, various types of paralysis, visual impairments, including blindness, and other abnormalities. What tests are needed to confirm pediatric hydrocephalus?