Hydrocephalus | Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of hydrocephalus vary by age of the person when the problem manifested itself.
In infants, symptoms include:
- large head that is growing too fast
- a white spot “outstanding” at the top of the head (anterior fontanelle)
- irritability
- seizures
- developmental delay
In children and older adults, symptoms include:
- headache
- difficulty walking
- loss of athletic ability
- changes in personality
- decreased mental capacity
The symptoms of hydrocephalus at any age include:
- vomiting
- lethargy
Diagnosis
Congenital hydrocephalus can be diagnosed during a routine prenatal ultrasound, but is often discovered in infancy or early childhood. A doctor may suspect hydrocephalus before other symptoms manifest if a baby has a head that seems to grow faster or larger than normal considering the weight and length of the baby. If the white spot (anterior fontanelle) is still open, a head ultrasound can determine if the head is growing due to hydrocephalus. If the ultrasound results are normal, more tests are needed.
The doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical and neurological examination. Could produce detailed images of the brain by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If these images reveal the presence of hydrocephalus or other problems, the child or adult is usually referred to a neurosurgeon for that conduct other tests and treatment.