Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to brain swelling.
Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain."
Water on the brain
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Hydrocephalus is due to a problem with the flow of the fluid that surrounds the brain. This fluid is called the cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord, and helps cushion the brain.
CSF normally moves through the brain and the spinal cord, and is soaked into the bloodstream. CSF levels in the brain can rise if:
The flow of CSF is blocked
It does not get absorbed into the blood properly
Your brain makes too much of it
Too much CSF puts pressure on the brain. This pushes the brain up against the skull and damage brain tissue.
Hydrocephalus may begin while the baby is growing in the womb. It is common in babies who have a myelomeningocele, a birth defect in which the spinal column does not close properly.
Hydrocephalus may also be due to:
Certain infections during pregnancy
In young children, hydrocephalus may be due to:
Infections that affect the central nervous system (such as meningitis or encephalitis), especially in infants
Bleeding in the brain during or soon after delivery (especially in premature babies)
Injury before, during, or after childbirth, including subarachnoid hemorrhage
Tumors of the central nervous system, including the brain or spinal cord
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.
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