Hydrocephalus Research Paper

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Hydrocephalus is fluid in the brain. The greek words “hydro” and “cephalus” mean water and head/brain. Hydrocephalus is a combination. That means it is from both hereditary and environmental factors. The fluid in the brain is called Cerebrospinal fluid or CSF and it surrounds the brain and the spinal cord(ninds.nih.gov). The CSF fluid causes an abnormal widening in the throughout the spaces in the brain called ventricles (ninds.nih.gov). This fluid that causes widening creates pressure on the brain tissue called Hydrocephalus. 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 babies are born with Hydrocephalus (ninds.nih.gov).

Babies can get Hydrocephalus from inherited abnormalities or developmental disorders. The prognosis for people diagnosed with Hydrocephalus is hard to predict. Affected individuals should know that hydrocephalus poses risks to both the brain and physical development. If hydrocephalus is left untreated, it could be fatal (ninds.nih.gov). …show more content…

Congenital Hydrocephalus and Acquired Cephalus. Congenital Hydrocephalus exists at birth and is caused by events that happen during the development of the fetus or genetic abnormalities. Acquired Hydrocephalus is caused by a disease or injury and it usually happens during birth or sometime after. Acquired Hydrocephalus can affect people of all ages. Then there is communicating and noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Communicating hydrocephalus happens when the flow of Cerebrospinal fluid or CSF is blocked as it leaves the ventricles. It is called communicating because the CSF fluid can still flow throughout the ventricles which are

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