Question
My child’s head circumference is significantly larger than average, and they often cry. After a thorough examination at the hospital, I found out that my child has hydrocephalus. I want to know what hydrocephalus in children is.
Answer
Hydrocephalus is a condition that leads to excessive cerebrospinal fluid excretion or a disorder in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation, resulting in a reduction of the ventricular system or an expansion of the subarachnoid space. The typical symptoms include headache, dry heaves, blurred vision, swelling of the optic nerve head, occasional diplopia, dizziness, and epilepsy. Although up to 20% of congenital hydrocephalus cases may stop expanding without treatment, approximately half of children with hydrocephalus may die within one and a half years. The degree of neurological impairment in hydrocephalus patients is positively correlated with the severity of the condition, and active diagnosis and treatment should be pursued.