Hydrocephalus

Also known as: water on the brain, fluid in the brain

What is Hydrocephalus?

The brain and spinal cord are normally surrounded by a fluid produced by vessels (the choroid plexus) in the brain called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF normally flows through the cavities of the brain (ventricles) and circulates around the brain and spinal cord, production being balanced by reabsorption into the bloodstream.

Hydrocephalus ("hydro" means water, "cephalus" means the brain) is primarily an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. This excess of cerebrospinal fluid accumulation causes the fluid spaces (the ventricles) of the brain to enlarge causing pressure on the surrounding brain.

What causes hydrocephalus?

Experts aren’t exactly sure why some baby’s develop hydrocephalus, but common causes include congenital abnormalities of the CSF pathway (for unknown reasons, genetic abnormalities or development disorders), following a bleed into the brain intraventricular hemorrhage), infections, malformations of the brain or brain tumors. It also appear as a complication of other diseases.

What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus causes different symptoms in infants than in older children and adults.

Infants with hydrocephalus typically have:

  • a large head
  • downward deviation of the eyes (“sun setting” sign)
  • irritability
  • sleepiness
  • vomiting
  • seizures

Older children and adults might experience headache, lethargy, drowsiness, vision problems (blurred or double vision), poor coordination, gait disturbance, nausea and vomiting, trouble with balance and personality changes, among other symptoms.

What are hydrocephalus care options?

Treatment for hydrocephalus depends on the underlying cause but usually involves creating a pathway for the excess fluid to flow out of the head to another area of the body. This is usually done with a "shunt system," though a treatment called endoscopic third ventriculostomy may also be used in some instances. Sometimes cauterization of the choroid plexus is required.

Fetal Care Services and Brain Institute Teams at Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Fetal Care Services at Nicklaus Children’s is devoted to the care of infants prediagnosed with medical needs in utero that will require intervention at birth. In collaboration with the Brain Institute’s Division of Neurosurgery, they offer the best possible care and outcomes for patients.

The Nicklaus Children's multidisciplinary team of pediatric subspecialists including pediatric surgeons, ob/gyns, neonatologists, cardiologists and other specialists collaborate with prenatal care providers in the community and beyond to provide families comprehensive, coordinated care and support from prenatal testing to delivery, postnatal care and the transition to infant care.


Reviewed by: John Ragheb, MD

This page was last updated on: May 22, 2023 10:42 AM

Fetal Care Services

The Fetal Care Service team offers support to families expecting an infant with medical needs that require intervention at birth. We provide comprehensive, coordinated care from prenatal diagnosis to the transition to infant care.

Learn More

Hydrocephalus Program

Our team of doctors and nurses has decades of experience caring for children with complex neurological disorders requiring surgery.

Learn More