Enlargement of the brain ventricles of the baby | Brain Ventricle

Enlargement of the brain ventricles of the baby

An expansion of the cerebrospinal fluid can also occur in babies.Such a “hydrocephalus” is caused by a predominant imbalance between production and absorption of the liquor. On average, 1 in 1000 babies is affected. Congenital hydrocephalus can have various causes.

Possible causes are overproduction, a disturbance of resorption in the area of the villi, or an obstruction in the outflow in the area of the ventricular system. The symptoms of “hydrocephalus” in babies are different from those of adults. In newborns, the fontanelles between the large bones of the skull are not yet closed, so that the increase in pressure inside the brain can find a way out.

The skin may appear shiny, the veins are congested and the fontanelles are bulging. Furthermore, babies often stand out due to a greatly enlarged skull. There are also behavioural problems, such as listlessness and loss of appetite. One therapeutic option for infantile hydrocephalus is a so-called shunt system, which creates an artificial outlet for the cerebrospinal fluid into the abdomen.

Bleeding into the brain ventricle

Bleeding in the brain ventricles can occur spontaneously. Usually a bleeding in the brain tissue breaks into the ventricle spaces, which usually has a bad prognosis for the patient. A direct consequence is a disturbance in the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid with a resulting increase in intracranial pressure.

Cerebral haemorrhages (in brain tissue) often occur suddenly and apparently without a direct cause, for example due to the rupture of a dilated cerebral vessel (aneurysm). Vascular deposits caused by high blood pressure or vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis are associated with this clinical picture. An inflammation or tumor can also trigger a cerebral hemorrhage.

In any case, immediate intensive medical treatment is required. Cerebral hemorrhages in brain tissue are a life-threatening emergency!