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Indirect signs of hydrocephalic syndrome in children. Hydrocephalus in children

Hypertension syndrome, also known as hydrocephalus, is a special pathological condition in which cerebrospinal fluid is produced in increased quantities. This fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid in medicine, usually accumulates within the meninges and in small quantities in the ventricles of the brain.

Western doctors most often attribute this disease to one of the types of pathologies in the development of the brain. Despite this, hydrocephalus is considered in most cases to be a syndrome.

A distinctive feature of the disease is that often hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome, as one of the diagnoses, is established incorrectly, and this happens in almost 98% of cases. The situation can be explained by the fact that this pathology is very rare in people.

Types of disease

Hypertension syndrome is classified depending on the age of the patient.

Therefore, this disease exists only in three types:

in newborns;
in children;
in adults.

In most cases, the syndrome occurs in newborns due to congenital causes.. As for children or adults, the disease is acquired.

But each of these groups has its own factors that directly influence the onset of the disease.

Causes of the syndrome in newborns

Hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome has many possible causes of occurrence in newborns, and here are the main ones:

The occurrence of complications during pregnancy, often caused by infectious or viral diseases.
Fetal hypoxia.
Deviations in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Damage to the fetus during childbirth, which is mechanical in nature.
Intrauterine growth retardation.
Traumatic brain injuries that can be caused to a child both during pregnancy and directly during childbirth.
Anomalies in fetal development.
Childbirth that occurs prematurely or late.
Fetal dehydration that lasts more than 12 hours.
Chronic diseases of the expectant mother.

Causes of acquired syndrome

Hypertension syndrome in children, as in adults, is acquired. Often the result of its appearance or even a concomitant diagnosis is cerebral palsy.

Before making this diagnosis, you need to know what hypertension syndrome is and how it manifests itself. Its symptoms include two conditions that occur with both hypertension and hydrocephalus.

Hypertension is increased intracranial pressure, and is a deviation in the form of an increase in the amount of fluid (CSF) within the brain.

The main symptoms of hypertension syndrome in newborns are:

poor reaction to the breast and refusal to feed;
moaning and crying for no reason;
noticeable decrease in muscle tone;
lack of a pronounced swallowing reflex;
tremors or cramps of the limb;
changes in the eyes - swelling of the apples, strabismus, the presence of a white stripe between the pupil and the upper eyelid, the iris hidden behind the lower eyelid;
tension in the fontanel area;
dynamic increase in head diameter, which reaches 1 cm per month.

Hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome manifests itself a little differently in children:

severe morning headache;
nausea and vomiting;
difficulty raising the eyes and pain that occurs when turning the head;
pale skin and constant weakness, leading to dizziness;
muscle pain and deviations in the functions of the vestibular apparatus;
fear of bright lights and too loud sounds;
decreased memory, concentration and thought process.

Hypertension syndrome manifests itself in adults in almost the same way as in children. In addition to the above symptoms, this group of people is characterized by deterioration in visual function and consciousness, severe headaches and the urge to vomit, which ultimately leads to seizures. Very rarely, coma may occur.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is very difficult to define the syndrome, and making a diagnosis with full guarantee of its probability is an impossible task. The congenital syndrome is determined by the correct functioning of the reflexes, as well as the size of the head circumference. To confirm or detect its presence in children or adults, an examination of the ocular vessels, tomography, ultrasound, and puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid is performed.

Treatment of symptoms in newborns and children

Liquor-hypertensive syndrome requires a special treatment regimen, which differs for different groups of patients.

Newborns should see and be treated by a neurologist before reaching one year of age. If there are special indications, this period may be extended. Depending on the severity of the disease, as well as its manifestations, the specialist must draw up the necessary treatment.

This may include those medications whose action is aimed at removing excess cerebrospinal fluid. They are Triampur, Glycerol, etc. Also in this case, it is necessary to prescribe drugs that provide vascular tone - for example, Aescusan.

Often the cause of the syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system. Despite the prescribed treatment, for the purposes of prevention and recovery, young parents need to provide their child with proper sleep and nutrition, frequent walks in the fresh air, and the absence of irritants and infections. If treatment and all recommendations are followed, normalization of intracranial pressure can be observed after 6 months, which will not deviate from the norm in the future.

Older children should receive a consultation with a pediatric neurologist at least twice a year, during which the fundus is measured and a skull x-ray is prescribed. After suffering a traumatic brain injury or in the presence of inflammatory processes in the brain or its membranes, observation and treatment at a dispensary is necessary.

Treatment methods for adults

Treatment of adults is also extremely important, since an advanced disease can become a threat not only to health, but also to life. The effect of high pressure over a long period does not allow the brain to function properly, which leads to a decrease in intellectual abilities and even dysfunction of nervous regulation in relation to internal organs. Hormonal imbalance is often the result.

Treatment of hypertension in adults includes taking diuretics, which helps to activate the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid, as well as its absorption. This therapy is carried out in several courses, and in complicated forms the drugs should be taken every week. If the disease is mild, treatment without the use of medications is possible.

However, to do this you need to follow several recommendations:

normalize the drinking regime;
perform a set of special gymnastic exercises that help reduce intracranial pressure;
get rid of excess cephalic venous bed using osteopathy or manual therapy.

Very rarely does hypertension become a serious threat to human health. In this case, surgical intervention is necessary. This operation involves the implantation of shunts, with the help of which cerebrospinal fluid will be removed from the brain. The result of this will be a gradual decrease in the manifestations of the symptoms of the disease and, as a result, getting rid of it completely.

A timely visit to a specialist is always the right decision when the first signs of the disease appear. If treatment is started on time, the disease will not have the opportunity to acquire a chronic or severe form.

A large number of parents are diagnosed with hydrocephalic syndrome in a child under one year old.

However, in 90-95% of all cases, the diagnosis is not confirmed by additional research methods.

Hydrocephalic syndrome is an excess of cerebrospinal fluid under the meninges and in the ventricles of the brain. The condition causes increased intracranial pressure, which in turn leads to delayed development of the baby.

The cause of the development of hydrocephalic syndrome in children is an obstruction of the pathways along which cerebrospinal fluid flows or a violation of its reabsorption (absorption).

The latter is often a consequence of inflammatory processes in brain tissue.

Much less often, overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid directly acts as an etiological factor.

Provoking factors

Factors that can provoke the development of this pathological process can be either congenital or acquired.

Congenital provoking factors:

infectious diseases suffered by the mother in any trimester of pregnancy. The most dangerous include: toxoplasmosis, influenza, cytomegalovirus infection;
the presence of aggravated diabetes mellitus, especially in a state of decompensation;
difficult labor;
premature or post-term pregnancy;
birth head injuries. Often occur when using obstetric forceps and other instruments for obstetric care;
congenital and infant brain development;
areas of cerebral ischemia or hypoxia;
intrauterine developmental delay.

As for acquired factors, among them are:

traumatic damage to the bones of the skull and directly to the structures of the brain itself;
foreign bodies in the brain;
encephalitis caused by a tick bite;
metabolic disorders;
previous infectious diseases (in particular malaria);
neoplasms in the brain - cysts, tumors, hematomas, abscesses.

In order to avoid the development of hydrocephalus syndrome in a small child, the mother must carefully monitor her health throughout her pregnancy.

And after the birth of the baby, special attention is paid not only to the health of the mother, but also to the prevention of infections and injuries in the child.

Clinical symptoms in children under one year of age

The clinical picture of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome does not have any manifestations that make it possible to make a diagnosis based only on symptoms. The disease can manifest itself as follows:

anxiety, increased irritability and tearfulness of the child;
lethargy, passivity, increased drowsiness, poor appetite;
positive Graefe's sign - the appearance of a white stripe between the pupil and the upper eyelid;
positive symptom of “setting sun” - it is characterized by partial covering of the iris by the lower eyelid;
swelling of the optic nerve during ophthalmological examination;
frequent tilting of the head back;
strabismus;
seizures;
constant excessive bulging of the fontanel;
abnormal growth;
divergence of the sutures of the skull;
tremor of the upper extremities;
hypo- or hypertonicity of the muscles of the lower extremities. It is clearly noticeable when, instead of supporting the entire foot, the child stands on tiptoes when trying to walk;
significantly reduced reflexes: grasping, automatic walking, support,.

As for children in the first days of life, their hydrocephalic syndrome can manifest itself in the form of:

refusal to eat. The baby may not even try to latch on;
(fountain) after eating;
frequent causeless hysterical crying;
the newborn making unusual sounds and groans that are uncharacteristic for a healthy child.

The clinical picture of the syndrome is individual for each child. This is due to how much the amount of cerebrospinal fluid is increased, as well as the compensatory characteristics of the child’s body.

Diagnosis of the disease

A thorough initial examination by a pediatrician and a neurologist allows one to suspect that a child’s body is not developing as expected for its age.

Once a qualified specialist suspects the possibility of developing hydrocephalic syndrome, a series of studies are prescribed to confirm or, conversely, refute this pathological process.

The diagnostic algorithm for hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome is based on laboratory and instrumental studies such as:

Ultrasound, which examines the condition of the ventricles of the brain, their sizes and shapes;
spinal canal puncture;
magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography of brain structures;
ophthalmological assessment of the vessels of the fundus and optic nerve.

The diagnostic algorithm is prescribed on an individual basis.

If the child's parents notice strange behavior or condition of their baby, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Providing medical care to children

Children with a confirmed diagnosis of “hydrocephalic syndrome” must undergo a course of complex therapy, which will not only eliminate the pathological process, but also help prevent its more serious complications.

Treatment should be prescribed and monitored by specialized specialists: neurologists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists.

Treatment of children less than six months old can be carried out at home under the close supervision of a local pediatrician.

The drug effect is based on the use of such groups of pharmaceuticals as:

diuretics (Diacarb) – help reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid and remove excess fluid;
nootropics (Piracetam, Actovegin, Cerebrolysin) – improve the trophism of all structures of the child’s brain;

sedatives (Diazepam, Tazepam) - help reduce excessive agitation and anxiety;

vascular (Cavinton, Cinnarizine) – provide improved blood supply to blood vessels and more active delivery of nutrients from the bloodstream to the nerve cells of the brain;
venotonics (Detralex) – also improve blood circulation and help support the venous network;
antibiotics – in the presence of an infectious agent of a bacterial nature;

cytostatics and drugs for specific antitumor therapy in the presence of formations of a malignant or benign nature.

Actovegin

A specific drug and its dosage are prescribed only after a thorough examination.

Physiotherapy has a good auxiliary effect.

Complications and consequences of the syndrome

Untreated or not diagnosed in time, hydrocephalic syndrome can lead to a number of serious complications.

Among them:

partial or complete loss of visual function;
hearing loss;
epileptic seizures;
disruption of urination and bowel movements (incontinence);
general delay in physical and mental development.

With rapid progression of the disease, it is even possible to develop paralysis or coma. There have also been cases of deaths among children under one year of age.

A favorable prognosis is observed in the infant age group. This is caused by a transient increase in blood pressure and cerebrospinal fluid, which should stabilize with age.

The older age group also has a favorable prognosis, which will depend on the timely and adequate therapeutic process and the cause that caused the pathology.

Prevention

First of all, in order to prevent hydrocephalic syndrome and other pathological conditions, the expectant mother should especially carefully approach the issue of pregnancy planning.

While carrying a child, a woman should avoid psycho-emotional and physical exhaustion, as well as monitor the possible occurrence of infectious diseases and pay attention to their timely treatment.

Giving up bad habits and proper balanced nutrition are also important components of a successful pregnancy and the full development of the fetus.

Unfortunately, today hydrocephalic syndrome in children is a common disease. It is associated primarily with an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to a stable condition. If left untreated, such a condition can be dangerous, since pressure on the brain leads to disruption of normal development. Fortunately, with the help of modern medicine, such complications can be avoided.

Hydrocephalic syndrome in children: causes

Firstly, it should be noted that such a diagnosis is often made in those in whom the formation of the nervous system, and the body as a whole, has not been fully completed.
In addition, the cause is often because oxygen deficiency primarily affects brain development.
Infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy, in particular rubella and herpes, also contribute to this problem.
Risk factors include bad habits of the mother. Of course, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as smoking, can disrupt the development of a small organism.
In some cases, this problem is the result of something caused during childbirth or in the first months of life.

Doctors are not always able to find out the exact cause of the development of this syndrome.

Hydrocephalic syndrome in children: main symptoms

It should be noted right away that the signs accompanying the disease can be different - it all depends on the degree of increase in pressure, as well as the age of the child. For example, in children under two years of age, the main signs will look like this.

One of the first symptoms is a significant increase in head size. In this case, attention should be paid not only to the circumference of the baby’s head itself, but also to its relationship with the size of the chest.
With hydrocephalus, swelling of the large fontanelle is also observed, and dilated veins can often be seen on the scalp.
Children with this diagnosis differ in many ways from their peers. As a rule, they are drowsy and inactive, but they also sleep poorly, cry, eat poorly and gain weight slowly. In addition, there is some delay in development. Such children begin to hold their heads up, sit and stand much later than they should.

But after reaching the age of two, the symptoms become completely different. First of all, it should be noted that the head circumference stops increasing as the bones of the skull become harder. Some children become overly active and capricious, while others, on the contrary, are much more passive than their peers. Symptoms in this case include constant attacks of headaches, as well as frequent vomiting.

Hydrocephalic syndrome in children: consequences

It should be noted right away that therapy for children with a similar diagnosis is simply necessary - in no case should treatment be refused. After all, the progression of the disease can lead to disruption of the development of the entire organism, which in turn is fraught with blindness, paralysis, mental and physical retardation, and ultimately hemorrhage.

Hydrocephalic syndrome in children: treatment

Treatment tactics are selected by the doctor individually and directly depend on the child’s age, the degree of increase in intracranial pressure and the rate of development of the small organism. As a rule, hydrocephalic syndrome in children can be eliminated using only complex therapy, which includes taking drugs that improve the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid and normalize metabolism. In addition, physiotherapy and regular massage will be useful. In the most severe cases, surgical intervention is required, in which surgeons perform shunting of the ventricles of the brain, which facilitates the outflow of fluid and normalizes pressure.

Hydrocephalic syndrome (abbreviation: HS) is a complex of neurological symptoms caused by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. In the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10), hydrocephalus is designated by code G91.

Hydrocephalic syndrome is a condition characterized by enlargement of the ventricles of the brain and accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid

Hydrocephalus (synonym: hydrocephalus) is a pathological increase in the content of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricular system of the brain. CSF is mainly formed in the cerebral ventricles - the choroid plexuses; flows around the outer part of the brain and spinal cord and is then released into the bloodstream.

CSF production and flow are in equilibrium. When outflow is obstructed, hydrocephalus develops. If CSF accumulates in the skull, intracranial pressure will increase significantly: the ventricles will begin to expand and compress the brain matter. In adults, the amount of CSF is about 120-200 ml. If this amount increases, the pressure on the brain increases.

Young children most often suffer from hydrocephalus. Difficult labor with oxygen deficiency often leads to the occurrence of HGS.

With slowly developing hydrocephalus, patients feel constant fatigue, uncertainty in gait and suffer from polyneuropathy.

Reasons for violation

Hydrocephalus can be congenital or acquired.

The causes of congenital pathology are:

developmental disorders in the womb (neural tube defects);
Arnold-Chiari malformation (improper development of the brain structures of the posterior cranial fossa);
Dandy-Walker syndrome;
malformations (vascular development abnormalities).

Even infectious diseases in a pregnant woman can cause the development of hydrocephalic syndrome in small newborns. Hydrocephalus can develop as a result of cerebral hemorrhage in premature babies.

Acquired hydrocele of the brain has the following main causes:

cerebral hemorrhage;
meningitis;
tumors.

Symptoms by age

Typical symptoms of hydrocephalic syndrome are visual disturbances

Symptoms are caused by intracranial hypertension and hydrocephalus.

General signs of HS:

nausea;
vomit;
headache;
personality changes or epileptic seizures.

However, in children and adults, the symptoms of hydrocephalic syndrome differ significantly.

In infants

In a child under one year old with hydrocephalic syndrome, decreased muscle tone, weak tremor, and a positive Graefe sign (“setting sun”) are noted.

There is an increased increase in head circumference (about 1-2 cm monthly). The baby's head looks disproportionately large.

Sometimes a baby with hydrocephalic syndrome exhibits swelling of the optic disc.

In children and adolescents

Symptoms of HS in adolescents and children;

visual impairment (strabismus, loss of visual field), decreased visual acuity to the point of blindness;
fine motor skills disorders;
disturbances in concentration;
personality changes, behavioral problems (anxiety, impatience, categoricalness), hypersensitivity to noise;
respiratory, speech and swallowing disorders;
endocrinological (metabolic) disorders;
early puberty before 8 years of age (very rare).

In adults

Symptoms of HGS in adult patients:

cephalalgia, vomiting, dizziness in the morning;
visual impairment (diplopia - double vision);
convulsive conditions;
severe fatigue;
restless behavior.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus with normal intracranial pressure:

moderate gait disturbances;
dementia and/or personality changes (forgetfulness, increased irritability);
hydrocephalic cry;
urinary and fecal incontinence.

Forms of the disorder

The internal form of hydrocephalus is the accumulation of a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid

In medicine, there are several types of hydrocephalus:

hypersecretory – excessive formation of CSF;
aresorptive - impaired resorption of CSF
occlusive – blockade of the CSF outflow tract;
external – increase in the content of internal CSF;
external - an increase in the amount of external cerebrospinal fluid.

Why is hydrocephalic syndrome dangerous?

Complications of hydrocephalic syndrome can negatively affect both the physical and mental state, which significantly reduces the patient's quality of life and can cause serious consequences.

There is often a strong increase in pressure in the skull, which can lead to headaches. In many cases, the pain spreads to other areas of the body.

Patients suffer from visual disturbances (nystagmus or diplopia).

In severe cases, epileptic seizures occur.

As the disease progresses, paralysis or sensory disturbances (neuropathy) may occur.

Sometimes gait disturbances occur.

The patient's daily functioning suffers. Patients often lose consciousness or fall into a coma.

Complications usually only occur if treatment is started too late or permanent brain changes occur.

If the patient has lost consciousness, it is necessary to lay him on his side and call an ambulance. The faster assistance is provided, the higher the chances of a full recovery for the patient.

Diagnostics

Pathology can be diagnosed using transcranial ultrasound

The diagnostic tool of choice used to visualize the ventricular system of the brain is computed tomography. MRI is done to detect malformations, cysts or tumors that lead to hydrocephalus.

Other methods for diagnosing childhood or adult hydrocephalus:

measurement of intracranial pressure;
transcranial ultrasound: in children it helps to accurately identify the size of the ventricles and possible causes of hydrocephalus;
assessment of fundus vessels;
lumbar puncture: taking 30-50 ml of cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal canal helps measure the pressure in the CSF system;
neurological tests;
adaptation test: by changing the volume and adding external fluid to the CSF system, the adaptability of the system to various changes is examined.

Treatment of hydrocephalic syndrome

If left untreated, hydrocephalic syndrome can lead to severe functional impairment due to irreversible damage to nerve cells. In rare cases, the pathology can lead to death. The prognosis of the disease depends on timely drug therapy and surgical treatment.

There are no effective drugs that have a long-term effect on CSF production.

If possible, the cause of hydrocephalus (such as a brain tumor) is treated with surgery. There are two options for surgical treatment:

endoscopic ventriculostomy (ETV) of the third ventricle;
shunting.

In ETV, the ventricle is opened using an endoscope and catheter to create a bypass system for CSF within the ventricular system. The indication for this surgical procedure is closed hydrocephalus.

During bypass surgery, a catheter is inserted into the ventricular system of the brain. Connected to this catheter is a valve that regulates the drainage of CSF. This is followed by another catheter that ends in the right atrium and reduces the volume of CSF.

Lumbar or ventricular drainage is used in the short term to treat sudden circulatory problems, especially those resulting from bleeding into the cerebral system.

Forecast

Unfortunately, this disease cannot be completely cured.

Hydrocephalus is incurable; in most cases, only the symptoms can be successfully treated.

The prognosis is conditionally favorable if the patient receives timely assistance. Without treatment, the prognosis is relatively poor; in some cases, the disease can lead to the death of the patient.

After the surgical procedure, there is usually a positive change in the patient’s condition.

Early diagnosis helps prevent neurological complications. The decisive factor is the absence of irreversible damage to the nerve tissue.

It is important to distinguish between prognoses for newborns and children, as well as for adults.

For children with timely treatment, the prognosis is quite favorable. Research confirms the effectiveness of early bypass surgery. 2/3 of patients can go to school, but every 10 patients die as a result of hydrocephalus.

The prospects for adults are not fully understood. The prognosis largely depends on how long hydrocephalic syndrome lasts. In some cases, the adult patient may also require a surgical procedure.

Advice! It is not recommended to self-diagnose or treat neurological diseases. If serious symptoms occur, you should urgently seek medical help, since the overall prognosis of the disease depends on the start of treatment. Delayed treatment can lead to fatal consequences.

Hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid, which accumulates in the ventricles of the brain and under its membranes.

Hypertension is a condition in which there is increased pressure inside the skull.

The simultaneous development of hypertension and hydrocephalus leads to the development of hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome.

Hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome (HHS) is divided into 3 types, which depend on the age of the patient:

HGS in newborns;
HGS in children;
HGS in adults.

Manifestations of pathology in newborns are caused by congenital factors, in children and adults the syndrome may be acquired.

Reasons for the development of the syndrome

Congenital causes of the syndrome include:

woman's pregnancy, delivery, complicated by conditions such as diabetes, gestational pyelonephritis, hypertension of the expectant mother, rapid labor, threat of spontaneous abortion, protracted labor;
fetal hypoxia;
birth of a child prematurely (32-36 weeks);
birth of a child late;
traumatic brain injuries received by the child at birth;
infections during fetal development, such as cytomegalovirus, Eppstein-Barr virus, toxoplasmosis, etc.;
congenital brain abnormalities;
pathologies in the structure of the skull;
the child is outside the amniotic fluid for a long time.

Among the acquired causes causing the development of pathology, the following can be noted:

malignant and benign neoplasms, hematomas, cysts, etc.;
entry of foreign bodies and objects into the brain;
traumatic brain injuries;
frequent increases in blood pressure for no reason;
various infectious diseases;
strokes, complications after strokes;
diseases of the endocrine system.

Symptoms in newborns

Hydrocephalic syndrome in the youngest patients can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

crying, reminiscent of a groan;
decreased muscle tone;
weak unconditioned reflexes;
shaking, trembling and convulsions;
frequent regurgitation in a fountain;
strabismus;
opening of cranial sutures, tension and bulging of the fontanelles;
increase in head circumference by more than 1 cm per month;
swelling of the optic discs.

When examining a baby, a specialist may notice the presence of a whitish stripe between the upper eyelid and the pupil (Graefe symptom) and the hiding of the iris behind the lower eyelid.

Symptoms in children

Symptoms of pathology in children appears after a head injury and/or brain or infection. A characteristic manifestation is a migraine, which bothers the child, usually in the morning after waking up, a feeling of nausea and profuse vomiting, which does not bring relief to the baby. The pain is concentrated in the temples, in the forehead and brow ridges. The pain can be dull, aching, or bursting.

Children with HHS complain of the inability to lower their head down or raise their eyes, severe dizziness (younger children describe a condition such as “swinging objects”, swinging on a carousel).

During a headache attack, parents may notice baby's skin turns pale, weakness, apathy. There is an irritable reaction to sound and light.

Due to increased muscle tone in the legs, children with the syndrome move, relying on the entire foot, and only on the toes. Also, hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome in children is characterized by the presence of strabismus, lethargy, memory impairment and inattention.

More details about HGS in a child

HGS in adults

In adult patients, the development of HGS is observed after head and/or brain injuries, neoplasms, infections affecting the brain, and stroke. Signs of pathology are:

visual disturbances (decreased vision, double vision), strabismus;
migraines;
nausea and profuse vomiting;
disorders of consciousness, fainting, convulsions;
in rare cases, the patient falls into a coma.

Diagnostics

In order to identify hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome in a patient, it is necessary to undergo comprehensive clinical diagnostics.

In newborns and children up to 12 months, an important indicator is an increase in head circumference. Thus, for children under 6 months, the increase in circumference is up to 2 cm per month; the head circumference of children aged 6 to 12 months should not increase by more than 1 cm per month.

Important: the child’s head circumference may slightly exceed normal values. This occurs in babies who have suffered from rickets in the first 12 months of life, and in children whose parents have a certain constitution.

To determine the cause of the development of pathology, an examination is carried out using the following methods:

echoencephalography, which uses ultrasound to diagnose lesions inside the skull;
rheoencephalogram, which is used to study the outflow of blood;
computed tomography, which helps to establish the area of cerebrospinal fluid stagnation, the size of the ventricles of the brain, etc.;
electroencephalography, during which electrical impulses are applied to the patient's brain to determine its activity.

Interesting: Due to the similarity of the symptoms of HGS with the signs of neuropsychic excitability syndrome, in more than 97% of cases, such a diagnosis is given to children without reason. The presence of pathology can be confirmed solely on the basis of the indicators of the studies performed.

Video about dropsy of the brain

Treatment in newborns

Treatment of HGS in newborns should be carried out according to a specific regimen. The child must be registered with a neurologist until he reaches the age of 1 year (according to the testimony of a specialist, this period is extended).

Drug treatment involves the use of drugs whose action is aimed at removing excess fluid. The most popular of this group of drugs is Veroshpiron which is contraindicated for:

hypersensitivity to the main components;
Addison's disease;
hyperkalemia;
hyponatremia;
renal, liver failure;
Lactase deficiency, lactose intolerance.

Average price:

tablets (50 mg)— 80-90 rub.;

capsules (100 mg)— 240-260 rub.

In addition, for the treatment of HGS in newborns, it is necessary to use drugs that provide vascular tone. One such remedy is Aescusan, which has the following contraindications:

hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
liver diseases;
lactose intolerance;
lactase deficiency;
childhood.

Average price:

oral solution (1 pc.)— 160-175 rub.

Additional therapy may include the use of sedatives, natural medicines and their infusions (valerian, mint, etc.).

Often the cause of the development of the syndrome is dysfunction of the nervous system.

In addition to the recommended drug treatment, mothers and fathers are advised to organize a normal diet for the baby, wakefulness and sleep, walks, eliminate the influence of external irritants and carry out the prevention of infectious diseases.

Treatment in children

Drug therapy for older children coincides with the treatment of newborns. In addition to taking medications prescribed by a specialist, patients need to consult a neurologist at least once every 6 months. A visit to the doctor is accompanied by fundus measurements and skull x-rays. If HGS is caused by acquired causes, such as head injuries or inflammation in the brain, the child is treated in a hospital setting.

Only a specialist should prescribe medications, determine the dosage and treatment regimen!

Treatment in adults

Treatment of the disease in adults is necessary, since advanced pathology poses a serious threat. Therapy consists of taking diuretics:

Contraindications

anuria;
chronic renal failure;
acute glomerulonephritis;
hepatic coma, precoma;
functional liver disorders;
impaired electrolyte metabolism (hyperglycemia, hypercalcemia, etc.);
pregnancy and lactation;
allergic reactions to sulfonamides.

Average price:

pills— 280-310 rub.

If the disease in adults is mild, then it is possible to do without drug therapy, but subject to several rules:

it is important to normalize your water consumption;
perform exercises aimed at normalizing blood pressure (selected by your doctor).

In rare cases, hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome can threaten the patient's life. In such situations, surgical intervention is resorted to, during which shunts are implanted. With the help of such implants, excess fluid from the brain will be removed. This method of treatment leads to a gradual reduction in the symptoms of the pathology, and subsequently a complete cure.

Forecasts

With timely diagnosis and adequate treatment, the prognosis for treating the disease is favorable.

Hypertensive hydrocephalic syndrome in citizens of military age, depending on the degree of dysfunction, is an indication for limited suitability or temporary unfitness for military service.

Complications

If the pathology is not treated, the consequences of the syndrome can be dangerous for both children and adults.

If the disease is not treated on time, then the pathology of the disease degenerates into a pathological condition, which leads to conditions such as: