The clinical picture of hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus refers to a condition whereby the volume of the "water" (hydro) in the "head" (cephalus) continually increases.

Normally the production and resorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are balanced. Healthy adults produce approximately 500ml of the cerebrospinal fluid daily, whereas small children produce about 250ml per day and infants about 100ml per day.

In patients with hydrocephalus, the balance between resorption and production of CSF is disturbed. If the amount of CSF that is produced exceeds the amount that is resorbed, the ventricles will expand.

Medical science distinguishes between congenital hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus is present before birth) and acquired hydrocephalus (the disease develops later in life).

Reasons for acquired hydrocephalus are:
previous inflammation or bleeding of the brain, a severe head injury, a cancerous growth or a brain operation.

A further distinction is made between hydrocephalus occlusus (obstructive hydrocephalus) and hydrocephalus communicans (communicating hydrocephalus). In hydrocephalus occlusus, the channels between the ventricles are severed in such a way that they are unable to "communicate" with each other. Cases in which the channels between the ventricles are unobstructed but resorption of cerebrospinal fluid is impaired are defined as hydrocephalus communicans.