Table of contents:
- What causes hydrocephalus in adults?
- Signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults
- When to see a doctor?
During this time, you may more often see babies and children who have hydrocephalus. Indeed, a disease characterized by an enlargement of the head size generally begins at birth, making it easier to detect. 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 causes hydrocephalus in adults?
Simply put, hydrocephalus is defined as an enlargement of the circumference of the head beyond normal limits. This condition generally occurs due to a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain cavity (ventricles), causing the brain to swell.
Although it is more commonly experienced by children, you cannot immediately feel relieved by this serious disease, you know. Because in fact, even adults can experience hydrocephalus. Quoted from Healthline, hydrocephalus is susceptible to experienced by young adults and elderly people who are more than 60 years old.
However, the cause is not due to genetic factors or infection during pregnancy as experienced by babies 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 increases, 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 drastically.
Unlike in infants and children, the skull of adults tends to be stiffer and unable to expand. As a result, this cerebrospinal fluid does not cause an increase in the size of the head, but instead presses the brain continuously. Over time, the overall brain function becomes disrupted, leading to damage.
This risk can increase if you have experienced 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 result in permanent damage to the brain. Therefore, it is important for you to detect hydrocephalus symptoms as early as possible to prevent them.
As previously explained, hydrocephalus in adults does not always immediately indicate an enlarged head size change. Some of the signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in adults include:
- Often falls suddenly
- Severe headache
- Nausea
- It's hard to walk
- Impaired eyesight
- It's hard to remember what happened
- Difficulty concentrating
- Bladder problems
- Seizures
When to see a doctor?
As people get older, some people often ignore the symptoms of the disease that appear in them. That is why some people do not realize that they have hydrocephalus as an adult. Moreover, the symptoms tend to be similar to those of other diseases so they are often underestimated.
Therefore, it is important for you to detect hydrocephalus symptoms early. Especially if you already feel one or more of the symptoms that have been mentioned earlier, you should immediately see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner hydrocephalus symptoms can be detected and prevented as early as possible. The reason is, this one chronic disease can be fatal if it is not treated quickly.
Hydrocephalus in adults is generally treated by suctioning the cerebrospinal fluid in the head to reduce pressure on the brain. However, this is adjusted again with the severity of hydrocephalus and the health condition of each patient.
You simply cannot prevent hydrocephalus as an adult. However, calm down first. You can still, really, reduce the risk by protecting the head from the various impacts that can occur.
One example is always wearing a helmet when driving. Even though it looks simple, this method actually has a big impact on preventing head injuries as a risk factor for hydrocephalus in adulthood.
