Hydrocephalus

Richelle Martinez

Mrs. Zuniga

English II Honors

March 24, 2016        

Hydrocephalus

        According to www.HydrocephalusAssociation.org, one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus, making it as common as Down’s syndrome and more common than Spina Bifida or brain tumors. With hydrocephalus being this rare, it is hard to think that anyone can get it. When people do get it, it changes their life forever. Treatment for it can be difficult and might not be successful. Not many people know what hydrocephalus is, so fear sets in about how serious it is. The fact that it is mysterious to most people makes them have many questions about it: what is hydrocephalus, how are people affected by it, can it develop in early adulthood, and what is the treatment for it?

        Hydrocephalus is a very serious condition. It comes from the Greek words “hydro”, meaning water and “cephalus”, meaning head. The water is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which flows through ventricles, out over the outside of the brain and down the spinal cord, and then absorbed back into the bloodstream. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance of production and/or absorption of the CSF into the body. As stated in www.Nationalhydrocephalusfoundation.org, “The body makes almost a pint of new CSF per day and the amount is perfectly balanced (not too much nor too little)”. Obviously with hydrocephalus, there is too much CSF which causes brain damage. My brother Andrew has hydrocephalus with his condition being similar. The ventricles are too small in his brain so the cerebrospinal fluid cannot properly drain. The pressure builds and the head circumference increases. Due to the increased pressure on the brain, neurological processes are damaged. This event causes slow development and thinking. Reaction times are slower and the brain cannot keep up at a relevant pace. Furthermore, the CSF has many functions and jobs in the whole network and wiring of the brain. According to www.Hydrocephalusassociation.org, “This fluid…has many functions, including to surround the brain and spinal cord and act as a protective cushion against injury”. If CSF was not in the brain, it would not function very well. The fluid helps nourish the brain by giving it nutrients and proteins. It acts like the oil in a car, by keeping everything lubricated and running smoothly. Cerebrospinal fluid also gets rid of waste particles and keeps the brain free of toxins. If all the noxious content builds up and does not get flushed out, infection can occur. Since hydrocephalus is such a serious condition, it could lead to death if not properly taken care of.

        Hydrocephalus can have very bad, negative effects on a person’s health. When the pressure on the brain increases, it can cause neurological problems. People cannot think logically so they can lose common sense. Simple instructions become difficult and practically impossible to accomplish. According to www.Allanach.dk, “The areas most affected are usually those linked to learning, coordinated movement, and even thought”. The tasks of everyday life pose a challenge with hydrocephalus. Making decisions and organizing are challenging. With help, all of this can be reversed or corrected. For example, Andrew does not have the common sense to look both ways when crossing the road or to know not to talk to a stranger and get into the car with them. He can be put into dangerous situations without even realizing it. In addition, hydrocephalus can cause brain damage. If the pressure is left alone for too long, a condition referred to as “sunset eyes” can occur. This is when the eyes are stuck in a downward position. It is most common in babies. Based on www.Healthline.com, “Hydrocephalus can cause permanent brain damage, so it’s important that you recognize symptoms of this condition and seek medical attention. The condition is more common in children, but it can happen at any age”. It is crucial that the signs of hydrocephalus are detected so that any symptoms that rise up can be treated before they become too advanced. For the person’s health, hydrocephalus can create unpleasant effects.

        Hydrocephalus can develop at any point in a person’s life. When this condition is developed in the womb before birth, it is called “congenital hydrocephalus”. This happens because of a brain malformation or another birth defect that causes extra cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate in brain cavities called “subarachnoid space”. According to www.Ucsfbenioffchildrens.org, “With sophisticated imaging technologies, congenital hydrocephalus can be detected in a fetus as early as the third or fourth month of pregnancy”. A birth defect can happen to anyone and it is no one’s fault. Andrew has congenital hydrocephalus. He was born prematurely at thirty two weeks with ventricles that were too small to keep up with the normal production of cerebrospinal fluid. If hydrocephalus can be diagnosed before the baby is born, a plan can be made to treat it. On the other hand, acquired hydrocephalus develops after birth. If someone were to have a hard blow to the head, this would block off the drainage of CSF, building up pressure and causing strain on the brain. According to www.Ucsfbenioffchildrens.org, “Acquired hydrocephalus is caused by injuries or conditions that develop after birth, such as a hemorrhage, meningitis, head trauma, tumors and cysts”. Unlike congenital, acquired hydrocephalus is preventable in that an injury, if avoided, can prevent the development of this condition. Some preventable solutions are the use of helmets when riding a motorcycle or doing extreme sports. At any point in a person’s life, hydrocephalus can develop.