Signs & Symptoms Of Fluid On The Brain

Fluid on the brain or water on the brain is the common terms used to denote Hydrocephalus. The Greek-derived term ‘hydrocephalus’ has two Greek root words – hydro implying water and cephalus standing for head.

As the name itself suggests, hydrocephalus refers to a condition in which there is excess building up of cerebrospinal fluid in skull.  The excess cerebrospinal fluid exerts pressure on the human brain following widening of ventricles that are spaces inside the human brain. This results in various deteriorating conditions varying from one age group to another age group.

Importance of Cerebrospinal Fluid

Ventricular system comprises of four ventricles that are connected to each other by means of narrow passages. The cerebrospinal fluid normally flows through the four ventricles and finds exit to cisterns that act as reservoirs. The cerebrospinal fluid bathes out the surface of the brain as well as that of the spinal cord. Finally, the cerebrospinal fluid gets reabsorbed by the bloodstream.

The cerebrospinal fluid performs three crucial functions i.e. keeping the brain tissue buoyant that absorbs shocks. Basically it acts as a cushion to the brain as well as the spinal cord and surrounds them. Two other important functions of the cerebrospinal fluid are acting as the transporting medium of nutrients to brain and flowing amidst spine and cranium thereby checking cerebral blood volume changes

What Causes  Fluid In The Brain?

Fluid on the brain or Hydrocephalus is the condition when the normal flow or absorption of the cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed. When fluid occurs on a newborn’s brain then this condition is called congenital hydrocephalus. Such situations arise due to premature birth of the child. Some other causes of congenital hydrocephalus in newborns are abnormal development of the fetus and certain genetic traits that have been inherited by the mother from someone else in the family. Also, an injury or meningitis can result in acquired hydrocephalus.

The condition of fluid on the brain of adults varies as per their age. Two of its types are hydrocephalus ex-vacuo and hydrocephalus that develops out of normal pressure on the brain. Whereas the cause of hydrocephalus ex-vacuo is brain damaging injury or stroke, there is no specific cause of normal pressure hydrocephalus. Normal pressure hydrocephalus has been related to infection, tumor, trauma, surgery complications and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Symptoms Of Fluid On The Brain

In Infants

Fluid on the brain symptoms in infants differ a great deal from those of adults or older kids. This is because of the fact that joints connecting the skull bones are not closed in infants thereby resulting in greater flexibility of the skull of the infants. Some of the prominent and common signs of hydrocephalus in infants are swift growth of head in terms of size, sleepiness, seizures, irritability, vomiting, etc. One interesting sign of hydrocephalus in infants is the sunsetting sign – a condition when the eyes of the infant look downward so that the eye’s white part is more visible as compared to the rest part of the eyes.

In Older Children and Adults

Some of the common symptoms of fluid on the brain of adults as well as older children than infants are nausea, headache induced by vomiting, unsteady movements, blurred vision, coordination problems, difficulty in walking straight, drowsiness, personality change, lethargy, urinary incontinence and change in thinking pattern, reason faculty and capacity to remember things. Sunsetting sign is applicable in this case too.

Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Normal pressure hydrocephalus show similar symptoms as that of Alzheimer’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as well as Parkinson’s disease. Normal pressure hydrocephalus can result in mental impairment, dementia, walking problems, bladder control dysfunction. People affected by normal pressure hydrocephalus generally walk very slow and show slower body movements than normal people.

Diagnosis Of Fluid On The Brain

Diagnosis Of Fluid On The Brain by following a set of tests. First of all the physician performs neurological test to check the health and functioning of the brain, nerves as well as the spinal cord. This might be followed by cranial imaging tests so that any abnormality on the brain structure comes to the forth.

The popular imaging tests for diagnosing hydrocephalus include pressure-monitoring techniques, computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the tests vary from person to person. While some people will be put through the neurological test, other may be put through only the imaging test or both. The physician selects the best test as per the patient’s age, prior neurological disorders and clinical presentation.

Treatment Of Hydrocephalus

Insertion of shunt system and third ventriculostomy are the two major treatments of hydrocephalus. Shunt system insertion is by and large the first line treatment. A shunt is a flexible tube designed for diverting the route of the cerebrospinal fluid to another body part where it gets absorbed. This prevents accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain in excess and exerts less pressure on the brain.

The shunt system comprises of shunt (plastic tube), valve and catheter. The catheter’s one end is placed either in the cerebrospinal fluid or in any of the four ventricles inside the brain. The other end is placed inside abdominal cavity generally. Heart’s chamber and areas close to the lungs can also be chosen as alternative to the abdominal cavity for placing the other end of catheter. The valve regulates the route and rate of flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Third ventriculostomy, on the other hand, is an alternative treatment to shunt system insertion. This is advised for patients who have crossed 6 months age. This is also advised to those patients who have undergone the shunt system treatment and to people with a typical kind of hydrocephalus where the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed.

Third ventriculostomy employs a neuroendoscope for offering a view to surface of the ventricle. A neuroendoscope is basically a fiber optic based camera that visualizes unreachable surgical areas. On finding a suitable position, a small hole is made on third ventricle’s surface that removes the obstruction to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Prognosis Of Fluid On The Brain

Prognosis of hydrocephalus or fluid on the brain becomes very tough to predict because of timeliness of diagnosis, success of treatment and related disorders. Also, to what extent does shunt surgery relieves the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain is not concretely defined.

It can be said that hydrocephalus brings with it potential risks to physical as well as cognitive development. In children, treatment by a team of medical professionals, education experts and rehabilitation specialists is a must. It is also to be noted that in case of improper or absence of treatment, fluid on the brain may turn fatal.