How is hydrocephalus formed?

Hydrocephalus is a dangerous disease, if not detected and treated promptly, it will leave many complications that are difficult to recover. So what is hydrocephalus? Why hydrocephalus? The following article will help you better understand this disease.

Normally the cerebrospinal fluid formed in the ventricles is circulated between the ventricles and is absorbed. For various reasons this process can be hindered leading to the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull causing hydrocephalus. This excess of cerebrospinal fluid causes the baby's head to grow larger and damage the brain parenchyma.
Hydrocephalus can occur at any age, but occurs more often in infants and adults 60 years of age and older.

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced by the tissues lining the ventricles. It is absorbed mainly by blood vessels in tissues near the base of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid plays an important role in brain function, specifically as follows;
Buffer function: The largest function of CSF is to cushion the inner brain with the outer solid part. Cerebrospinal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid have approximately the same specific gravity (only about 4% difference), so the brain is easy to float on the fluid. Reduce external trauma. Eliminate waste products of brain metabolism. Flows back and forth between the brain cavity and the spine to maintain a constant pressure in the brain - compensating for changes in blood pressure in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid is secreted by a part of the brain called the choroid plexus and removed by another part called the Pacchioni body. Excess cerebrospinal fluid occurs when the choroidal vessels secrete too much, or the Pacchioni bodies are less absorbed than usual. Or because the choroid plexus secretes too much while the Pacchioni bodies are too poorly absorbed.

Hydrocephalus is caused by an imbalance between the amount of cerebrospinal fluid produced and the amount absorbed into the bloodstream. Excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles occurs for one of the following reasons:
Obstruction: The most common problem is a partial blockage of the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, from one ventricle to another, or from the ventricles to other spaces around the brain. Malabsorption: This less common reason is a problem with the mechanisms that allow blood vessels to absorb cerebrospinal fluid. This is often associated with inflammation of the brain tissue caused by disease or injury. Overproduction: In this very rare case, the amount of CSF is produced in excess of the amount absorbed.

Possible causes of hydrocephalus include: bleeding in the brain, brain tumor, head trauma, complications of premature birth such as bleeding or diseases such as meningitis or other infection. In rare cases, hydrocephalus can be hereditary or associated with developmental disorders, including spina bifida (birth defect of the spine) and brain herniation.

In summary, hydrocephalus is caused by an imbalance between the amount of cerebrospinal fluid produced and the amount absorbed into the bloodstream. This excess causes the baby's head to grow bigger and bigger and damage the brain parenchyma. Hydrocephalus directly damages the central nervous system, so it will leave many serious sequelae if not treated early and properly.