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Hydrocephalus comes from the Greek word “hydro,” meaning water, and “cephalous,” meaning head. It is a neurological condition that exists when excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in cavities, called ventricles, inside the brain.
Fluid accumulates in the ventricles when the body produces more CSF in a day than it can reabsorb. This accumulation causes enlargement of the ventricles, resulting in hydrocephalus.
Hydrocephalus can be caused by a variety of medical problems. It can be present at birth, as a result of a congenital condition. For example, hydrocephalus may occur along with spina bifida, aqueductal obstruction, arachnoid cysts or Dandy-Walker Syndrome. Acquired hydrocephalus may occur at any time during a person's life as a result of intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, head injury, tumours, or an unknown cause. Approximately, eighty per cent of individuals with spina bifida also have hydrocephalus.
If untreated, hydrocephalus can cause serious brain damage. Even when treated, it may still cause some injury to the brain. Some cases are more severe than others. The extent of brain damage may also depend on the cause of the hydrocephalus. Someone who has a head injury as a result of a car accident, for example, may have extensive damage to the brain as a result of the injury, not the hydrocephalus.
Treatment for hydrocephalus usually involves surgically implanting a flexible tube, called a “shunt”, into the brain ventricles to drain away excess cerebrospinal fluid. With treatment, mental capability and lifespan are similar to those of the general population. However, most people with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus will have some form of learning disability.
There is no cure for hydrocephalus. In most cases, it is a condition that is present for life, except when it is the result of a brain tumour. In this case, it may be possible to remove the tumour, and allow the cerebrospinal fluid to flow.