Hydrocephalus
Overview
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid in the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it.
Symptoms
The damage to the brain from hydrocephalus can cause a wide range of symptoms, including: headachebeing sickblurred visiondifficulty walking Different types of hydrocephalus can cause specific symptoms. Read more about thesymptoms of hydrocephalus.
Causes
In the past, hydrocephalus was referred to as "water on the brain". However, the brain is not surrounded by water but by a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF has 3 important functions: it protects the brain from damageit removes waste products from the brainit provides the brain with the nutrients it needs to function properly The brain constantly produces new CSF (about a pint a day), while old fluid is released from the brain and absorbed into the blood vessels. But if this process is interrupted, the amount of CSF can quickly build up, cause pressure in the brain. Read more about thecauses of hydrocephalus.