Conditions and Causes of Hydrocephalus

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The Hydrocephalus Program offers treatment for hydrocephalus stemming from all causes. Types can include:

  • Communicating hydrocephalus
  • Obstructive hydrocephalus
  • Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome

BWS is a genetic condition caused by abnormal gene regulation. It can cause premature birth, low blood sugar, abdominal problems, and macroglossia (enlarged tongue).

Birth Defects and Congenital Anomalies

Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly.

Brain Tumors

The term brain tumor refers to an unusual growth of tissue seen in the brain irrespective of the nature and cause of the growth.

Chiari Malformation

Please see Syringomyelia for further information.

Choroid Plexus Brain Tumor

In children, tumors of the choroid plexus are rare, overwhelmingly benign papillomas Grade 1 that generally occur in young infants.

Cleft Lip and/or Palate

A cleft lip and/or palate is characterized by the presence of a gap (split) in the lip and/or palate seen at birth when the tissues of the lip and/or palate don't come together at all, or come together only part of the way.

CLOVES Syndrome

CLOVES syndrome is a very rare congenital disorder that is characterized by the presence of several problems together.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

The diaphragm is the muscular boundary that helps separate the contents of the chest from those of the abdomen. When there’s a hole within the diaphragm of a growing fetus while it’s in the mother’s womb, this is known as a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH.

Congenital Hand Malformation

Any problem with the hands that develops in a fetus while it’s still in the uterus is known as a congenital hand malformation.

Congenital Heart Defects/Disease

Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly.

Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome

If a fetus’s upper airway becomes blocked during intrauterine development, the problem is called congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, or CHAOS.

Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM)

CPAM is one or more non-cancerous lumps or cysts of abnormal lung tissue usually prenatally diagnosed with US during pregnancy.

Craniofacial Abnormalities

Craniofacial is a broad medical term that describes abnormalities of the bones of the skull and face.

Craniofacial Microsomia

Please see Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum for further information.

Craniosynostosis

When a baby has craniosynostosis, one or more of the bones of the skull are joined together by bone prematurely. This leads to problems depending on which, and how many sutures may have closed early.

Down Syndrome

Babies with down syndrome have an extra full or partial piece of chromosome 21, this causes a variety of physical abnormalities. It is the commonest chromosomal disorder in the USA.

Encephalocele

An encephalocele is a rare disorder where the bones of a fetus's skull do not close all the way resulting in a space through which the tissues surrounding the brain and brain tissue itself bulges.

Gastroschisis and Omphalocele

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are both part of a relatively uncommon group of birth defects that involve an opening or hole in the abdominal wall, frequently on the right side of the belly button.

Genetic Diseases

Genetic diseases are conditions that occur due to a mutation in a gene in the body’s cells.

Hemolytic Disease

Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a condition that occurs when a mother’s blood type is not compatible with her unborn fetus.

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is primarily an excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. There are many cause of hydrocephalus, which can be congenital or acquired in nature. In some children, the cause remains unknown.

Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis is a condition where one or both kidneys swell either because of a blockage/obstruction of urine flow or because of reverse urine flow from the bladder.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is one of the most complex cardiac defects seen in newborns.

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

When a baby has trouble digesting certain foods and turning them into energy, it could be due to inborn errors of metabolism.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage

IVH of the newborn is bleeding into the fluid filled cavities of the baby's brain.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the linings that cover the spinal cord and the brain.

Myelomeningocele

A myelomeningocele is a bulge or sac of the fluid that surround the spinal cord. Spina bifida refers to the specific gap in the bony spinal column that protects the spinal cord.

Neural Tube Defects

A neural tube defect is a birth defect that occurs very early in the development of a fetus, often during the first month of pregnancy, where the brain, spinal cord and spinal column do not develop normally.

Neurogenetic–Neurometabolic Abnormalities

Neurogenetic and neurometabolic abnormalities are disorders that affect how the brain ( and/or other organs) function.

Periventricular Leukomalacia

Periventricular leukomalacia is a brain disorder occurring in prematurely born babies which is characterized by brain damage with softening and death of the inner part of the brain.

Pierre Robin Sequence

Pierre Robin Sequence describes a series of characteristics in newborns which include a small or set back lower jaw, displacement of the tongue to the back of the throat, cleft palate and airway obstruction which leads to difficulty with breathing.

Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

A sacrococcygeal teratoma is a tumor containing a number of different tissues (fat, bone, nerves etc.) that is present at birth in the tailbone of the newborn baby.

Single Ventricle Heart Defects (SVD)

The ventricles are two of the hearts' four chambers. When a baby is born with only one of the ventricles functioning  properly or missing, this is called "single ventricle defect".

Spina Bifida

Please see Myelomeningocele for further information.

Syringomyelia

Syringomyelia is a rare chronic condition where fluid accumulates (syrinx) within the spinal cord. The most common cause of syringomyelia is Chiari malformation. Other conditions that may cause syringomyelia include spinal cord tumors, tethered spinal cord or shunt malfunction.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a heart condition of several defects present at birth that occur due to abnormal development of the heart during pregnancy.

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Transposition of the great arteries is a heart condition that is present at birth due to abnormal development of the fetal heart during pregnancy, in which the two major arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs and the body are wrongly connected.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TBI is an injury to the brain from direct or indirect physical force to the head and/or brain.

Treacher Collins Syndrome

Treacher Collins is a genetic disorder that impacts how the face develops. Specifically, it can cause abnormal development of the jaws, ears, eyelids and cheekbones.

Ureterocele

The ureters connect the kidneys to the bladder and allow urine to pass through. When swelling occurs near the bottom of a ureter where it connects with the bladder, this is known as ureterocele.

Ventriculomegaly

Ventriculomegaly is a congenital condition in which the ventricles of a fetus/baby are abnormally large.

Vitamin K deficiency bleeding

When there is a lack of Vitamin k blood doesn't clot and bleeding results.