Fetal, Infant and Pediatric hydrocephalus

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Clinical Presentation of Hydrocephalus

Clinical picture of Hydrocephalus depends on the age at the time of presentation.

The skull of the infant is malleable and soft with open sutures and fontanels, so it can accommodate large amount of CSF without any increase in the intracranial pressure.

The skull of the adult is rigid, hard, so any increase in the contents will result in increase in the Intracranial pressure.

Clinical Presentation of Infantile Hydrocephalus (Fig. 4)

Large sized head or progressive enlargement of the size of the head.

The scalp over it well be stretched, shinny with dilated veins.

The Anterior Fontanel (AF) well be open, wide and bulged. The posterior fontanel may be still open.

Sun set appearance of the eyes.

Disproportion between the size of the head and size of the face.

Disproportion between the size of the head and size of the body.

In advanced cases, delayed development of the normal milestones and Mental retardation may be present or developed, also history of fits may be given.

Figure 4: Infantile Hydrocephalus

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