What is Water on the Brain?

By Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch HERWriter

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Water on the brain, also known as hydrocephalus, is defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as “a build up of fluid inside the skull, leading to brain swelling.” The fluid in question is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which normally cushions the brain and the spinal cord; the CSF also delivers nutrients to the brain, and transports the waste away from the brain. A patient with water on the brain, however, have either a blockage or overproduction of CSF; the excess of CSF puts pressure on the brain, which can lead to damage of brain tissue.

The Mayo Clinic states that one out of every 500 children are diagnosed with water on the brain. The disorder can be present at birth or symptoms can develop slightly later; the damage, however, starts while the child is developing in the womb. If water on the brain is left untreated, the death rate is 50 to 60 percent, according to the NIH; however, the condition can be treated by relieving the pressure, either through surgery or a shunt.

Comorbid Conditions

Water on the brain can be present with other conditions, according to the NIH. Some of the disorders start when the child is in the womb, like myelomeningocele, which is the incomplete closure of the spinal cord. Brain injury, trauma or bleeding in the brain can also occur with water on the brain. Other comorbid conditions include central nervous system (CNS) infections, like meningitis and encephalitis, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Symptoms

Symptoms can start early in the child's life. Parents may note physical symptoms, like a bulging soft spot, a larger head and a rapid increase in its size. The child may also have separated sutures, where there are “abnormally wide spaces in the bony joints of the skull,” according to the NIH. The child's eyes may appear to gaze downwards. Other symptoms include vomiting, sleepiness, seizures and irritability. The water on the brain may also cause a delay in development.

Symptoms of water on the brain are also present as the child gets older. The child has a delay in growth from birth to age five, as well as a slowed or regression of development. The eyes are also affected, resulting in changes in eye spacing, crossed eyes, uncontrolled eye movements, blurred and double vision. The delay in development can result in an impaired performance in school and work, which includes changes in memory, thinking and personality. The child can also have a change in facial appearance. Movement is also affected, which include slow or restrictive movement, loss of coordination, trouble walking, spasms and sluggishness. Other symptoms include vomiting, urinary incontinence, irritability, headache, excessive sleepiness, difficulty feeding, nausea and a high-pitched cry.

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Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch received her bachelor’s of science degree in neuroscience from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in May 2009. She is the Hartford Women's Health Examiner and she writes about abuse on Suite 101.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.