Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus literally means "water in the brain".  It is a condition that may result form many different diseases.

It occurs when the fluid filled cavities of the brain known as the ventricles become overfilled with fluid.  They swell and exert pressure against healthy brain tissue which then begins to dysfunction.  Left alone long enough, or if it occurs very quickly, and the patient will go into a coma.

The condition results when substances such as blood or pus get into the spinal fluid such as in subarachnoid hemorrhage or meningitis.  It can also occur if the normal fluid path is blocked as can happen with certain brain tumors or types of stroke.

Treatment is geared toward releasing the built-up pressure, either my removing the offending lesion, or by placing a drainage tube directly into the ventricles.

The neurologist can both diagnose and manage this condition.