Is congenital hydrocephalus life-threatening if it is not treated?

If congenital hydrocephalus is not treated, it will pose a serious threat to life, especially when the disease continues to progress, it may cause increased intracranial pressure, severe damage to brain tissue, and even death. Early and clear diagnosis and active intervention can significantly improve the patient's prognosis and avoid the occurrence of serious complications. Treatment methods include surgical treatment to relieve intracranial pressure, drug control, and etiology-targeted treatment.

1 Cause Analysis

The core cause of congenital hydrocephalus is obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation or abnormal absorption, which leads to ventricular dilatation and increased intracranial pressure. Specific causes include:

Genetic factors: Gene mutations or family genetic diseases may lead to abnormal cerebrospinal fluid circulation, such as X-linked congenital hydrocephalus.

Developmental abnormalities: Hydrocephalus may be caused by abnormalities in the development of the nervous system during fetal development, such as aqueductal stenosis or meningeal atresia.

Impact of infection: Maternal infections such as Toxoplasma gondii and Rubella virus may cause abnormal development of fetal brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid circulation disorders.

Other diseases: Pathological factors such as intracranial hemorrhage in the fetal period, tumor compression, congenital malformations of the central nervous system, etc. often induce hydrocephalus.

2 The dangers of not treating

If hydrocephalus is not treated, it can easily cause brain tissue atrophy, intellectual retardation and even mental disorders. In severe cases, it can directly threaten life.

Patients in infancy and childhood may show abnormally increased head circumference, eye movement disorders or convulsions. Delayed treatment may cause irreversible permanent brain damage.

Adult patients may experience persistent headaches, vomiting, vision loss, and even coma, which may eventually be life-threatening due to brain herniation.

3 Treatment options

Surgical treatment: Surgery is the preferred method for treating congenital hydrocephalus. Common surgeries include ventriculoperitoneal shunt to drain cerebrospinal fluid into the abdominal cavity to reduce intracranial pressure, endoscopic surgery such as endoscopic third ventriculostomy and other drainage surgeries.

Drug treatment: Drugs are only suitable for specific situations and are intended to relieve symptoms in the short term, such as the use of dehydrating agents such as mannitol and furosemide to reduce intracranial pressure, but their effects are limited and they are not suitable for long-term treatment.

Treatment of the cause: If hydrocephalus is caused by a specific cause, such as infection, tumor, or bleeding, treatment of the cause is targeted, such as anti-infective drugs, tumor removal, or stopping the bleeding.

Early intervention and treatment are the key to avoiding serious consequences of congenital hydrocephalus. Infants or children suspected of hydrocephalus should seek medical attention promptly, undergo complete examinations, and follow the doctor's orders for treatment. At the same time, parents and patients also need regular checkups to evaluate treatment effectiveness and physical development, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life.