Welcome to FRIDAY FACTS! here at the www.knowledgesafari.com blog! Each Friday we aim to shine the light on a new area of special needs in order to learn and raise awareness. This week the spotlight is on Hydrocephalus.
The following information is provided by The Hydrocephalus Association. More information can be found on their website at: http://www.hydroassoc.org/
The following information is provided by The Hydrocephalus Association. More information can be found on their website at: http://www.hydroassoc.org/
Q. What is Hydrocephalus?
A. Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. This condition may occur at any age. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system in the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins that are needed for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase.
Q. What causes Hydrocephalus?
A. Hydrocephalus is a condition that can develop for a variety of reasons, sometimes in conjunction with another disorder. Hydrocephalus that is congenital (present at birth) is thought to be caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Aqueductal stenosis, an obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct, is the most frequent cause of congenital hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is believed to occur in about 1.5 per 1,000 births. Hydrocephalus that is acquired after birth may result from intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, head trauma, tumors or cysts or for no known reason. Hydrocephalus is believed to occur in about 1.5 per 1,000 births. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a form of hydrocephalus that affects older adults. Sometimes the cause of NPH is known-and can include head trauma or brain tumor but most often it is idiopathic, which means the cause is not known.
MORE RESOURCES
Rowan's Developmental Journey http://andreajunelleb.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/andreajunelleb
Kadyn's Stuggle with Hydrocephalus http://kadynsmommy2007.blogspot.com/
www.twitter.com/kadynsmama
Brave with Hydrocephalus http://familyshields.blogspot.com/
Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hydrocephalus/DS00393
Hydrocephalus Foundation Inc. http://www.hydrocephalus.org/
Please feel free to post your experiences or questions about Hydrocephalus in the comments section. See you there!
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4 comments:
Great post! Thank you for highlighting Hydrocephalus. Excited for your site to launch.
Anna
YaY! Great post!! Thank you for including me in your "links" as well! GREATLY appreciated!
For those of you reading this that DON'T know me, I have a 20 mo.old daughter, Rowan Elizabeth who was born with Severe Hydrocephalus & diagnosed in the womb at approx. 7months... She had her 1st brain surgery at 3days old where her Neurosurgeon attempted a VERY difficult procedure which has VERY LOW success rates in Newborns, but I wanted to give it a shot NEway so that i knew in my heart of hearts that I tried something OTHER than just JUMPING in2 putting a Shunt in her head.. The procedure was called an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (known by Hydro sufferers' as the ETV procedure) She was monitored for 10days after the procedure, &ofcourse was considered "Unsuccessful" :( So the following day when she was 14days old she had her 2nd brain surgery - where her Neurosurg. put in a VP Shunt. Her Shunt has been working BEAUTIFULLY *knock on wood!* BUT along the way we've had OTHER snags.. at 5 months she was diagnosed with Epilepsy, and at 6 months she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.. So she has MANY Therapists that visit out home EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, JUST for our babygirl, but we've got the BEST of the BEST working with her, and she's making GR8 progress, & ontop of it all, she has the BEST personality I've EVER seen in a child! She's got an "AURA" or "Vibe" around her that is just SO positive, she makes EVERY1 in her presence happy :) Follow her blog if your interested in more@ http://andreajunelleb.wordpress.com/ Thank u 4reading 'n allowing me 2 share my story, thanks again 2 Knowledge Safari!!!
Thanks Andrea for the great info! Rowie has a great mom!
Great post on hydro! My daughter also has hydro as well as other medical conditions.
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