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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus vary by age group and disease progression.
In infants, common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus include:
- An unusually large head
- A rapid increase in the size of the head
- A bulging "soft spot" on the top of the head
- Vomiting
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Eyes fixed downward (sunsetting of the eyes)
- Developmental delay
In older children and adults, common signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus include:
- Headache followed by vomiting
- Nausea
- Blurred or double vision
- Eyes fixed downward (sunsetting of the eyes)
- Problems with balance, coordination or gait
- Sluggishness or lack of energy
- Slowing or regression of development
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Urinary incontinence
- Irritability
- Changes in personality
- Impaired performance in school or work
Hydrocephalus produces different combinations of these signs and symptoms, depending on its cause, which also varies by age. For example, a condition known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, which mainly affects older people, typically starts with difficulty walking. Urinary incontinence often develops, along with a type of dementia marked by slowness of thinking and information processing.
When to see a doctor
Infants and toddlers require emergency medical care for these signs and symptoms:
- A high-pitched cry
- Problems with sucking or feeding
- Unexplained, recurrent vomiting
- Exhibiting an unwillingness to bend or move the neck or head
- Breathing difficulties
- Seizures
The following signs and symptoms don't constitute an emergency, but they do warrant a call to your child's doctor:
- A rapid increase in the size of the head
- A bulging "soft spot" on the top of the head
- A change in the appearance of the face or eyes
- A decreased level of interest or engagement in social interactions
Older adults need a complete physical and neurological exam if experiencing:
- Walking difficulties
- Impaired thinking
- Urinary incontinence
- Hydrocephalus fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm?css=print. Accessed July 17, 2009.
- Fishman MA. Hydrocephalus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 17, 2009.
- Golden JA, et al. Developmental structural disorders. In: Goetz GD. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/150609977-3/864809399/1488/253.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10028-1_1756. Accessed July 17, 2009.
- About hydrocephalus: A book for families. Hydrocephalus Association. http://www.hydroassoc.org/docs/AboutHydrocephalus-A_Book_for_Families_Dec08.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2009.
- Meningococcal: Who needs to be vaccinated? http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/who-vaccinate.htm. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Accessed July 17, 2009.
