Introduction

Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can cause it to be damaged.

The damage to the brain can result in a wide range of symptoms, including:
Headache
Being sick
Blurred vision

Difficulty walking
Hydrocephalus can usually be treated using a piece of equipment known as a shunt. A shunt is a thin tube that's surgically implanted in the brain and used to drain away the excess fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid

In the past, hydrocephalus was often referred to as ‘water on the brain’. However, this term is incorrect because the brain is not surrounded by water but by a special fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Cerebrospinal fluid has three important functions:
It protects the brain from damage
It removes waste products from the brain
It provides the brain with the nutrients it needs to function properly

The brain constantly produces new cerebrospinal fluid (about a pint a day), while old fluid is released from the brain and absorbed into the blood vessels. However, if this process is interrupted, the level of CSF can quickly build-up, placing pressure on the brain.

Types of hydrocephalus

There are three main types of hydrocephalus:
Hydrocephalus that's present at birth (congenital hydrocephalus)
Hydrocephalus that develops after birth (acquired hydrocephalus)
Hydrocephalus that usually only develops in older people (normal pressure hydrocephalus or NPH)
These are briefly described below.

Congenital hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus is present in babies when they're born and can be caused by birth defects, such as spina bifida, or as a result of an infection that the mother develops during pregnancy, such as mumps or rubella (German measles).
Congenital hydrocephalus carries the risk of long-term mental and physical disabilities as a result of permanent brain damage.
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