The cause of hydrocephalus, the condition of the increase in the size of the child's head

It is important to measure the baby's head circumference from birth until he is 24 months or 2 years old. When your baby's head is smaller or larger than it should be, there may be a problem with his growth. Babies may experience birth defects, one of which is due to the size of the head circumference which is enlarged or called hydrocephalus. Actually, what causes hydrocephalus?

What causes hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is a baby birth defect characterized by an increase in the size of the baby's head circumference more than its normal range.

The cause of hydrocephalus is due to a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavity or skull of the brain. This excess fluid buildup can enlarge the size of the cavity or skull as well as put pressure on the brain.

This condition is called hydrocephalus or water in the brain (water on the brain). Cerebrospinal fluid actually flows in the brain cavity to the spine.

However, too much cerebrospinal fluid can be a cause of hydrocephalus. As a result, the hydrocephalus experienced by babies can damage brain tissue and cause interference with brain function.

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) explained that monitoring the size of a baby's head circumference is important to ensure optimal development.

In addition, measuring the baby's head circumference regularly also helps to give an idea if there is an estimated problem with brain growth.

This is because problems with the growth of the baby's brain can lead to the cause of hydrocephalus. Launching from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the actual cause of hydrocephalus is still not well known.

In addition to the accumulation of the amount of cerebrospinal fluid, the cause of hydrocephalus can also be due to congenital genetic disorders or disorders of development.

Not only that, complications during delivery of premature babies can also be a cause of hydrocephalus.

These various complications, for example, babies experience meningitis, tumors, head injuries, and bleeding to the head, resulting in a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid.

Overall, the causes of hydrocephalus in infants and children can be distinguished as follows:

The causes of hydrocephalus from the time the baby is born

The cause of hydrocephalus when a baby is born can be caused by certain health conditions, for example spina bifida. As previously explained, babies born prematurely can also experience complications during delivery.

Complications during childbirth, for example, cause bleeding in the brain so that it blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.

This is what causes the appearance of this birth defect in newborns. In addition, other possible causes of hydrocephalus include:

Mutations on the X chromosome
Rare genetic disorder
Arachnoid cyst, a fluid-filled sac that is between the brain or spinal cord and the arachnoid membrane

The presence of an excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain can be due to the following:

Blockage in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid

Blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid can occur from one ventricle to another and even to other rooms in the brain. This condition then becomes the cause of hydrocephalus in babies.

Poor absorption mechanism

Problems due to poor absorption of blood vessels with cerebrospinal fluid can also be a cause of hydrocephalus.

This condition is usually associated with inflammation of the brain tissue due to disease or injury.

Produce excess cerebrospinal fluid

The production of too much cerebrospinal fluid can complicate the absorption process. This is what further triggers the causes of hydrocephalus in babies.

Causes of hydrocephalus in children

In contrast to hydrocephalus in newborns, the cause of this condition occurring in children is usually the result of an injury or disease.

Some of the causes of hydrocephalus in children are as follows:

Bleeding inside the brain
The presence of a blood clot in the brain
Meningitis, an infection of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord
Brain tumor
Head injury
Take a heavy blow

However, under other conditions, some children are born with a narrowing of the cerebrospinal fluid passage in the brain, restricting its flow.

Even so, this narrowing of the cerebrospinal fluid pathway did not cause any symptoms until years later.

The causes of hydrocephalus are based on the type

The reasons for the occurrence of hydrocephalus are not only distinguishable from the time the baby is born and has grown into children.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the following types of hydrocephalus can also describe different causes:

1. Acquired hydrocephalus

Acquired hydrocephalus is a type that develops when a newborn or already a child. This hydrocephalus is caused by serious injuries or diseases such as brain tumors, meningitis, and strokes.

2. Congenital hydrocephalus(congenital hydrocephalus)

Congenital Hydrocephalus or congenital hydrocephalus is a type that can occur during fetal development or due to genetic disorders.

Pregnant women who experience infections can also cause the baby to experience congenital hydrocephalus, for example mumps and rubella infections.

3. Communicating hydrocephalus

Communicating hydrocephalus is a type that occurs because there is a blockage in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles or cavities of the brain.

This condition can occur because there is a problem with fluid absorption or because the amount of cerebrospinal fluid is increased.

However, this type of hydrocephalus is called "communicating"Because cerebrospinal fluid can still flow between the brain cavities.

4. Noncommunicating hydrocephalus

Noncommunication hydrocephalus or also known as obstructive hydrocephalus occurs when the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is blocked.

The obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid occurs along one or more of the parts connected to the ventricles or brain cavities.

This condition then causes the pressure in the skull and brain to increase, causing hydrocephalus.

5. Normal pressure hydrocephalus(normal pressure hydrocephalus)

Compared to other types of hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus is the type that is more common in adults aged 50 years and over.

Even so, this type of hydrocephalus can actually be experienced by all ages. This condition is characterized by the widening of the cavity or the ventricles of the spine to dilate with normal pressure.

6. Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo

Same is the case with normal pressure hydrocephalus, hydrocephalus ex-vacuo also experienced by adults because of degenerative diseases.

Degenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease and stroke or trauma that causes damage to the brain resulting in shrinkage of brain tissue.

What are the risk factors for hydrocephalus?

Although under certain conditions the cause of hydrocephalus in babies is difficult to know, there are still various health problems that can increase the risk of this birth defect.

Risk factors for hydrocephalus in newborns

Some of the risk factors for hydrocephalus at birth or shortly after birth are as follows:

Abnormal development of the central nervous system that blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
Bleeding in the cavity of the brain, thereby increasing the likelihood of complications in preterm birth.
The mother experiences an infection in the uterus during pregnancy, which results in inflammation of the fetal brain tissue.

Other risk factors for hydrocephalus

In addition, other factors that can increase the risk of developing hydrocephalus in infants are:

Growth of tumors in the brain and spinal cord.
Infection of the baby's central nervous system, such as bacterial meningitis or mumps.
Bleeding in the brain due to stroke or head injury.
Other traumatic injury to the brain.

Immediately consult a doctor if you notice any problems with your little one's development, both at birth and as you get older.