Congenital HydrocephalusHome TreatmentHome treatment for
congenital hydrocephalus consists of monitoring your
child for any changes that might indicate pressure on the brain or failure of a
shunt. - Watch for signs of fluid buildup in the brain.
You will need to periodically evaluate head circumference and be alert for
symptoms, such as irritability, excessive sleeping, poor appetite, frequent
vomiting, eye-tracking problems, and high-pitched crying. If your child has a
shunt, these symptoms may indicate that it is not functioning properly.
- Be alert for signs of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) buildup after
early childhood. Additional symptoms that may be noticed include headaches that
get worse over time, vision problems, neck pain, confusion, slurred speech,
behavioral changes, problems walking, seizures, or
urinary incontinence.
- In addition to the
above symptoms, shunt infections may also produce a fever and redness along the
shunt tract or valve.
See your health professional immediately if you notice any
of these problems. For the caregiver Being a parent of a child with
congenital hydrocephalus can be full of challenges. Although many children who
are diagnosed and treated early avoid severe long-term problems, it can be
difficult to handle the uncertainty of whether symptoms will return. Also,
congenital hydrocephalus sometimes causes brain damage that impacts your
child's physical or mental abilities.
Take good care of yourself so you have the energy to take proper care of and
enjoy your child. While there are no official guidelines to
restrict activities in children who have shunts, some doctors may suggest that
severe contact sports be restricted. You may want to ask your
health professionals about support groups and organizations that can assist you
with managing your child's special needs. For more information on available
resources, see the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic.
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