What is Hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is a condition where too much fluid collects on the brain. This accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid is caused by an imbalance between how much of the fluid is produced and how much is absorbed by the bloodstream. When too much is produced and/or not enough is absorbed, the fluid accumulates in the brain. This build-up of fluid can lead to increased pressure on the skull and the brain.
When looking for excess fluid on the brain in an infant, a doctor will look for sunken eyes, slow reflexes, bulging fontanelle, and a larger head than normal for the age of the infant.
Hydrocephalus must be treated to avoid long-term damage and ensure reasonable life expectancy. The treatment usually involves draining the fluid from the brain.
Understanding brain-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The brain is the central organ of the nervous system, a system that includes not only the brain but also the sensory organs of the body, the spinal cords, and the nerves that connect them all. The nervous system is how the different parts of the body communicate with each other and control their responses to both internal and external stimuli.
Generally, symptoms affecting the brain can not be seen with the naked eye. Although diagnosing a brain-related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.
Symptoms related to the brain may affect other parts of the body and development, including intellectual ability, movement, speech, and other crucial bodily functions.
What should I do next?
In some instances, excess fluid in the brain may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Hydrocephalus, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.