Complications
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When things are going well following treatment, it can be easy to put concerns about hydrocephalus and potential complications out of your mind. However, it’s critical to understand the signs and symptoms that may warn of a shunt or ETV failure.
Always act fast
If you notice any hydrocephalus related symptoms that arise after treatment, seeking immediate medical attention from your doctor or visiting the Emergency Department is always the right course of action – even if symptoms turn out to have another cause.
If an abrupt failure of a shunt or ETV occurs, deterioration can develop rapidly – especially in children – leading to potential brain damage, coma and possibly death. Early medical intervention can often resolve complications and prevent this scenario.
Beware of masking problems
It’s important to be aware that medication with a side effect of drowsiness can mimic or mask signs of a shunt malfunction or an ETV closure. For this reason, they should be used with particular caution when given to those with hydrocephalus, especially infants and young children.
Get to know telltale symptoms
While symptoms of a shunt or ETV failure can vary greatly from person to person, recurring failures tend to have similar symptoms for a particular individual. People who are diagnosed and treated in adulthood, including those with NPH, tend to revert to the symptoms they experienced before initial treatment. Knowing those signs can help you get early treatment.
What are the warning signs?
Infants
- Fontanel full and tense when infant is upright and quiet
- Prominent scalp veins
- Swelling along shunt tract
- Vomiting
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Downward deviation of eyes
- Less interest in feeding
- Fever, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
- Redness along shunt tract, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
Children and Adults
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Irritability and/or tiredness
- Swelling along shunt tract
- Personality change
- Loss of coordination of balance
- Difficulty waking up or staying awake (this symptom requires urgent attention as it can potentially lead to a coma)
- Decline in academic or job performance
- Fever, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
- Redness along shunt tract, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
Toddlers
- Enlargement of head
- Swelling along shunt tract
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Loss of previous abilities (sensory or motor function)
- Fever, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
- Redness along shunt tract, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
Senior Adults (NPH)
People who are diagnosed and treated in adulthood, including those with NPH, tend to revert to the symptoms they experienced before initial treatment when they are experiencing a shunt malfunction.
- Hydrocephalus
- Difficulty walking or gait disturbances
- Cognitive challenges or mild dementia
- Urinary urgency or incontinence
- Fever, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
- Redness along shunt tract, potentially present with shunt failure or infection
