Congenital Hydrocephalus

Home Treatment

Home 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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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: February 6, 2008
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Mark G. Luciano, MD - Neurological Surgery
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