Hydrocephalus Awareness Month

Today is the twenty ninth day of Hydrocephalus Awareness Month and tomorrow will be the 30th day. I thought I would quickly share something from a different Hydrocephalus Group something they wrote that talks about Hydrocephalus because I feel it's important we continue to learn about it. So here is the title for this topic: September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month - Recognize Potential Signs of Hydrocephalus. Now here is the rest of the topic:

Hydrocephalus can cause permanent brain damage, so it’s important that you recognize symptoms of this condition and seek medical attention. The condition is more common in children, but it can happen at any age.

Early signs of hydrocephalus in infants include:

bulging fontanel, or soft spot on the surface of the skull
a rapid increase in head circumference
eyes that are fixed downward
seizures
extreme fussiness
vomiting
excessive sleepiness
poor feeding
low muscle tone and strength

Symptoms or signs that affect toddlers and older children include:

short, high-pitched cries
personality changes
changes in facial structure
crossed eyes
headaches
muscle spasms
delayed growth
trouble eating
extreme sleepiness
irritability
loss of coordination
loss of bladder control
larger than normal head
trouble staying awake or waking up
vomiting or nausea
seizures
problems concentrating

Symptoms in young and middle-aged adults include:

chronic headaches
loss of coordination
difficulty walking
bladder problems
vision problems
poor memory
difficulty concentrating

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
This form of the condition usually begins slowly and is more common in adults over the age of 60. One of the earliest signs is falling suddenly without losing consciousness.

Other common symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) include:

changes in the way you walk
impaired mental functions, such as memory problems
trouble controlling urine
trouble controlling stools
headaches

I hope this helps you and I can not wait to share more tomorrow. This Month Matters. It always does.