Hydrocephalus
The causes of hydrocephalus are poorly understood.
It's thought hydrocephalus present at birth may be the result of a brain defect restricting the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Hydrocephalus that develops in adults and childrenis often caused byan illness or injury that affects the brain.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)that develops in older people may also be the result of an infection, illness or injury, but in many cases it's not clear what causes the condition.
Hydrocephalus , when a baby is born with the condition,can be caused by certain health conditions, such as spina bifida .
Congenital hydrocephalus can also occur in babies born prematurely, before week 37 of the pregnancy.
Some premature babies have bleeding in the brain, which can block the flow of CSF and cause hydrocephalus.
Other possible causes of congenital hydrocephalus include:
In many cases of congenital hydrocephalus, the cause is unknown.
Hydrocephalus that develops in adults or children (acquired hydrocephalus) is usually the result of an injury or illness.
Possible causes of acquired hydrocephalus include:
Some people are born with narrowed passageways in their brain that restrict the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, but don't cause any symptoms until years later.
Hydrocephalus that develops in older people (normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH) can occur after a brain injury, bleeding in the brain or an infection. However, in most cases, there's no clear reason.
It may be that NPH is linked to other underlying health conditions that affect the normal flow of blood for example, diabetes , heart disease , or having a high level of cholesterol in the blood.
Find out about hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), including information about symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment and complications.
Read about the symptoms of hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). The symptoms can differ depending on the type of hydrocephalus and the age of the person affected.
Read about the causes of hydrocephalus. The causes are poorly understood, but the different types of hydrocephalus (congenital acquired and normal pressure) have different causes.
Find out how hydrocephalus is diagnosed. Brain scans play an important role in diagnosing the condition and are used to examine the brain in greater detail.
Find out how hydrocephalus is treated. Surgery is usually needed to reduce the pressure on the brain.
Read about the possible complications that can occur after having surgery to treat hydrocephalus.