Hydrocephalus is a dangerous condition marked by the presence of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, which can stretch its tissues over time. In young children and even in fetuses, this condition can affect the rate of growth. It is important to seek treatment for hydrocephalus right away. So, what age is hydrocephalus detected?

What Age is Hydrocephalus Detected?

But at what age is hydrocephalus detected? How can hydrocephalus be identified and treated quickly? Today, your spine surgeon in Beverly Hills will help you determine when and how you can detect this condition as well as what treatments are available to you.

Hydrocephalus and Birth

In most cases, we have found that hydrocephalus is congenital, meaning that most people with this condition are born with it. However, it can also be developed over time in infants and children as they continue to develop. While there is no one single cause linked to this condition, there are a number of treatments available to give young patients as big of a chance to be healthy as possible.

Diagnosis During Pregnancy

Hydrocephalus is usually detected before birth, during an ultrasound scan. The condition typically appears between 15 and 35 weeks, meaning that the baby is developing with this condition present. To confirm the presence of hydrocephalus, the doctor may want to also perform an MRI scan. In some severe cases, pregnant patients must give birth early to account for the injured spine. Treatment is typically administered to the affected baby immediately after birth.

Treating Hydrocephalus After Delivery

It is difficult for our surgical team to predict exactly how your newborn will be affected by hydrocephalus once they are born. It is imperative to seek immediate hydrocephalus treatment, but it can have a range of effects on the babies. Since hydrocephalus deals with the brain, it is possible for some babies to be born with other conditions such as epilepsy, memory loss, coordination issues, learning disabilities, and more.

There are a few ways that hydrocephalus is treated at birth:

Immediate Surgery

Upon being born, the baby may need to go into surgery to receive a fetal shunt. This helps to drain the fluid and the pressure from the brain, encouraging it to develop normally. Additionally, a surgeon may perform an endoscopic ventriculostomy, which slows down the rate of fluid production overall.

Physical Therapy

The results of hydrocephalus can be so varied. So it is difficult to say how successful the surgical interventions will be in preventing the long-term effects of the condition. Some babies with this disease continue to grow normally and eventually do not have a problem with their condition. Others may need developmental and physical therapy over the course of many years to ensure the body is growing the right way.

Hydrocephalus is Scary – But Treatment Doesn’t Have to Be

We understand that this is an unpredictable and scary situation. But the good news is that hydrocephalus can be treated in a variety of ways. Your doctors will try non-surgical methods of relieving hydrocephalus first. Still, surgery may be required immediately after a baby is born. Others might not show signs of hydrocephalus until they are a few years old. Then this can also require proactive treatments at the office of a specialized neurosurgeon.

You can learn more about the benefits of top-notch hydrocephalus treatment in Beverly Hills when you get in touch with Dr. Yashar and his team of qualified professionals. It is important to continue visiting your doctor. This way, different conditions can be detected as early as possible. While hydrocephalus often occurs before birth, there are treatments that can be performed as soon as the child is born. Reach out to us today to learn more about this condition and find out what you can do about it right now.