Hydrocephalus – In Adults and Children, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Hydrocephalus is a derivative of two Greek words, “hydro” for water and “cephalus” for head. Thus, it is a health condition whereby there is uncontrolled accumulation of fluid in the brain resulting to a swollen head. In actual sense, the water in the brain is the CSF s(Cerebrospinal fluid) meant for brain and spinal protection.

Classification

There are two major categories of Hydrocephalus congenital hydrocephalus and acquired hydrocephalus. Congenital hydrocephalus exists at birth and is usually as a result of either events occurring during the development of the fetus or through genetic abnormalities. Acquired hydrocephalus on the other hand occurs during birth or after birth. Thus, acquired type of hydrocephalus can affect people of all ages and is usually as a result of other diseases or head injuries.

A different classification of hydrocephalus can be used. This is communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus. Communicating hydrocephalus is whereby the flow of CSF is obstructed after leaving the ventricles. It is referred to as communicating because the ventricles are still open and the CSF can still flow between the ventricles (Fallon, 2005). Consequently, non-communicating hydrocephalus or obstructive hydrocephalus results from blockage of the flow of CSF along a single or more constricted vessel connecting the ventricles. One of the causes of non-communicating hydrocephalus is aqueductal stenosis-a situation whereby, a small vessel between the third and the fourth ventricles at the center of the brain called aqueduct of Sylvius becomes narrow.

Causes

Hydrocephalus mainly occurs due to obstruction that leads to water build up in the brain. In congenital hydrocephalus, the main cause include “aqueductal stenosis” with the main causes of hydrocephalus at birth ranging from genetic defects, which cause aqueductal stenosis, and other developmental deformities mostly attributed to neural tube deformities such as encephalocele and spina bifida. In addition, premature births also increase the risk of developing hydrocephalus.

Alternatively, acquired hydrocephalus can occur as a result of complications in case of premature birth mostly intraventricular hemorrhage and diseases that block CSF exit from the ventricles through the cisterns or by eliminating the passage for CSF into the cisterns such as tumors, meningitis, encephalitis, mumps, subarachnoid hemorrhage or head injury.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hydrocephalus differ with age of the victim, disease progression to individual strength in tolerance of the condition. Symptoms of hydrocephalus based on age present differences. According to American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2005), infants have the ability to accommodate increased CSF pressure and ventricles’ expansion because the infant skull is capable of expanding and hence accommodate the CSF build up due to the fact that, sutures are not closed yet. Thus, in infancy rapid increase in the size of the head is an obvious symptom of hydrocephalus. Other minor symptoms in infants are vomiting, irritability, sleepiness, seizures and “sunsetting” (downward deviation of the eyes) as well as poor appetite.

Toddlers or children as noted by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2005), also experience an abnormal head enlargement, nausea, headache, fever, blurred vision, vomiting, irritability, unstable balance, sleepiness, delayed development in both talking and walking, change in personality, poor coordination, poor concentration, loss of sensory motor functions, poor appetite and seizures.

In young and middle aged adults, the symptoms may include headache, lack of coordination and balance, inability to wake up or remaining awake, impaired vision, problem with bladder control, slowed cognitive abilities that affect personal skills and job performance.

Finally, hydrocephalus in older adults portray  different symptoms such as loss of balance or coordination, loss of memory, shuffling gait, problem in bladder control headache, trouble speaking, emotional changes and incontinence.

Treatment

Treatment of hydrocephalus usually involves the insertion of a shunt system. A shunt is a   long flexible tube fitted with a valve that redirects the flow of CSF from the CNS to another part of the body usually the abdomen or a compartment in the heart where it can be absorbed as part of the regular circulatory process. Some people can be treated by use of an alternative procedure known as third ventriculostomy. In this method, a small camera that utilizes fiber optic technology (neuroendoscope) is used to visualize tiny and difficult surgical areas allowing the physician to view ventricular areas. This allows the surgeon to create a new pathway for the CSF to flow. This method is limited to a small number of people and thus cannot be used to a variety of patients (Fallon, 2005).

In some cases, the doctor may not be able to use the two methods described above. In this case, the doctor can administer some special drugs that are meant to postpone the need to carry out a surgery. These drugs include; acetazolamide and furosemide.

References

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2005). Hydrocephalus. Retrieved August 25, 2009, from http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/hydrocephalus.asp

Fallon, L. F. (2005). Hydrocephalus. In Brigham Narins (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from http://galenet.galegroup.com.prx-01.lirn.net/servlet

Julie Vajnar. JAAPA : Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Montvale: Jan 2009. Vol. 22, Iss. 1; p. 57 retrieved August 25, 2009 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?SQ=symptoms+of+hydrocephalus&DBId=4795&date=12m&onDate=&beforeDate=&afterDate=&fromDate=&toDate=&ShowFT=1&PeerReviewd=1&pubtitle=&author=&FT=0&AT=any&revType=review&revPos=all&STYPE=all&sortby=REVERSE_CHRON&RQT=305&querySyntax=PQ&searchInterface=1&moreOptState=CLOSED&TS=1251183509&h_pubtitle=&h_pmid=&clientId=83181&JSEnabled=1

MedicineNet (n.d.) What is Hydrocephalus. Retrieved August 21, 2009, from http://www.medicinenet.com/hydrocephalus/article.htm