Symptoms of hydrocephalus in newborns

Symptoms of hydrocephalus in newborns:

When a newborn develops hydrocephalus, the head will become abnormally enlarged, the fontanelle will close slowly, and symptoms such as headache and vomiting will occur due to increased intracranial pressure; children will have neurological dysfunction and sunset; when the condition is severe, symptoms such as drowsiness, mental retardation, and decreased motor coordination will appear.

1. Abnormal enlargement of the head

When a newborn has hydrocephalus, the head circumference will increase rapidly due to the increase in the amount of water, the skull and facial skull will be out of proportion, the head will be large and the face will be small, and the head and body will be out of proportion. Some children will fall on their chests because their heads are too big and their necks cannot support the weight of their heads.

2. Slow closure of the fontanelle

After neonatal hydrocephalus, due to abnormal growth of the skull bones, the brain is shaped like an inverted triangle. At this time, the closure of the fontanelle will also be affected. Some children will have delayed closure of the fontanelle, while others will have an enlarged fontanelle.

3. Increased intracranial pressure

As the hydrocephalus condition worsens, children's intracranial pressure will gradually increase and they will experience headaches. Because they cannot speak, they often express their discomfort by scratching their heads, shaking their heads, screaming, etc. When the condition is serious, vomiting may also occur.

4. Neurological dysfunction

When hydrocephalus compresses the skull, it can cause ophthalmoplegia. At this time, the child's eyes will droop, with the lower part of the eyes drooping and the upper part exposed. This is clinically known as sunset syndrome, which is a unique symptom of neonatal hydrocephalus.

5. Lethargy

Because children will have intracranial hypertension and neurological dysfunction, they will often experience symptoms of drowsiness or lethargy, so pay more attention when the baby's sleep state is abnormal.

6. Low intelligence

Neonatal hydrocephalus must be treated promptly, otherwise the neurological dysfunction will become more and more serious, which will lead to a decline in the child's intelligence and have a great impact on their normal life in the future.

7. Reduced motor coordination

After a newborn suffers from hydrocephalus, the coordination of limb movements will be greatly reduced, the movements will be slow, and even symptoms of ataxia will appear.