Types of hydrocephalus
There are three main types of hydrocephalus:
- congenital hydrocephalus – hydrocephalus that's present at birth
- acquired hydrocephalus – hydrocephalus that develops after birth
- normal pressure hydrocephalus – usually only develops in older people
Hydrocephalus present from birth
Congenital hydrocephalus is when a baby is born with excess fluid on the brain.
It can be caused by a condition such as spina bifida, or an infection the mother develops during pregnancy, such as mumps or rubella (German measles).
It's estimated spina bifida affects one baby in every 1,000 born in Britain. Most of them will have hydrocephalus.
Many babies born with hydrocephalus (congenital hydrocephalus) have permanent brain damage.
This can cause a number of long-term complications, such as:
If your child has learning disabilities, they'll need extra support from their nursery or school to ensure their needs are being met.
Read more about special educational needs (SEN).
Hydrocephalus that develops in children or adults
Acquired hydrocephalus can affect children or adults. It usually develops after an illness or injury.
For example, it may occur after a serious head injury or as a complication of a medical condition, such as a brain tumour.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is an uncommon and poorly understood condition that most often affects people over the age of 60.
It can sometimes develop after an injury or a stroke, but in most cases the cause is unknown.
Mobility problems, dementia and urinary incontinence are the main symptoms of NPH, but because they come on gradually and are similar to the symptoms of other, more common conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, it can be difficult to diagnose.
Introduction 