Contents:
- Medical Video: Adult Hydrocephalus
- What are the causes of hydrocephalus in adults?
- Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults
- When should I see a doctor?
Medical Video: Adult Hydrocephalus
During this time, you may see babies and children who experience hydrocephalus more often. Indeed, a disease characterized by enlargement of the size of the head generally starts from the time the child is born so that it is more easily detected. However, did you know that even adults can experience hydrocephalus? So, what are the symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults? Check out the full review below.
What are the causes of hydrocephalus in adults?
Simply put, hydrocephalus is interpreted as enlarging the size of the head circumference beyond normal limits. This condition generally occurs because of the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain cavity (ventricles), causing the brain to swell.
Although it is more commonly experienced by children, you cannot then feel free with this one serious illness, you know. Because in fact, even adults can experience hydrocephalus. Quoted from Healthline, hydrocephalus is susceptible to being experienced by young adults and the elderly who are more than 60 years old.
However, the cause is not due to genetic factors or infections during pregnancy as experienced by infants and children. Hydrocephalus in adults is caused by a condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain cavity has increased, while the head pressure tends to be normal. The more fluid that accumulates in the head, the pressure on the brain will continue to increase dramatically.
Unlike in infants and children, adult skulls tend to be more rigid and cannot expand. As a result, this cerebrospinal fluid does not cause enlargement of the size of the head, but instead suppresses the brain continuously. Over time, overall brain function becomes disrupted, triggering damage.
This risk can increase if you have experienced some of the following conditions:
- Infection or brain tumor, such as meningitis
- Head injury
- Brain hemorrhage
- Surgery on the brain
Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults
Hydrocephalus in adults can cause permanent damage to the brain. So it is important for you to detect symptoms of hydrocephalus as early as possible to prevent it.
As previously explained, hydrocephalus in adults does not always immediately indicate a change in the size of an enlarged head. Some signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults include:
- Often falls suddenly
- Great headache
- Nausea
- Difficult to walk
- Impaired vision
- It's hard to remember things
- Difficulty concentrating
- Bladder problems
- Seizures
When should I see a doctor?
As we get older, some people more often ignore the symptoms of diseases that arise in him. That's why some people don't realize that they have hydrocephalus as adults. Moreover, the symptoms tend to be similar to other diseases so that they are often underestimated.
So, it's important for you to detect symptoms of hydrocephalus early. Especially if you have felt one or several of the symptoms mentioned earlier, you should immediately see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
The sooner you see a doctor, the faster the symptoms of hydrocephalus can be detected and prevented as early as possible. Because, this one chronic disease can be fatal if it is not dealt with quickly.
Hydrocephalus in adults is generally treated with surgical removal of cerebrospinal fluid in the head to reduce pressure on the brain. However, this is adjusted again by the severity of hydrocephalus and the health condition of each patient.
You really can't prevent hydrocephalus as an adult. However, calm down first. You can still, how come, reduce the risk by protecting the head from various collisions that can occur.
One example is always wearing a helmet when driving. Although it looks simple, this method actually has a great impact to prevent head injury as one of the risk factors for hydrocephalus as adults.
