Hydrocephalus Symptoms

Hydrocephalus symptoms vary widely from person to person and can be affected by the patient's age and other factors, such as how far the disease has progressed. Common symptoms include progressive mental impairment, double vision, nausea, and dementia. Symptoms of hydrocephalus are similar to symptoms of other conditions, so anyone who is experiencing possible hydrocephalus symptoms should see a doctor so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated properly.

 

An Overview of Hydrocephalus Symptoms

Hydrocephalus symptoms vary with age, disease progression, and a person's tolerance to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). For example, an infant's ability to tolerate CSF pressure differs from an adult's. The infant skull can expand to accommodate the buildup of CSF because the sutures (the fibrous joints that connect the bones of the skull) have not yet closed.
 

Hydrocephalus Symptoms in Infants

In infancy, the most obvious hydrocephalus symptom is often the rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size.
 
Other hydrocephalus symptoms in infants may include:
 
  • Vomiting
  • Sleepiness
  • Irritability
  • Downward shift of the eyes (also called "sunsetting")
  • Seizures.
     

Hydrocephalus Symptoms in Older Children and Adults

Older children and adults may experience different hydrocephalus symptoms because their skulls cannot expand to deal with the buildup of CSF. In older children or adults, hydrocephalus symptoms may include:
 
  • Headache followed by vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Papilledema (swelling of the optic disk, which is part of the optic nerve)
  • Blurred vision
  • Diplopia (double vision)
  • Sunsetting of the eyes
  • Problems with balance
  • Poor coordination
  • Gait disturbance
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Slowing down or loss of development
  • Lethargy
  • Drowsiness
  • Irritability
  • Other changes in personality or cognition, including memory loss.
     
(Hydrocephalus Symptoms Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD