Symptoms and treatment of intracranial pressure in children, advice to moms

1 Diagnosis of the disease

There are no instruments that could be used to measure ICP.If any person who claims that he is a doctor suggests using a new and accurate apparatus for this, you do not need to agree to this procedure, as in modern medicine there are none.

The methods by which intracranial pressure is measured generally involve the opening of the skull. This procedure is carried out for vital indications and, of course, in a hospital.

Indirect signs of elevated ICP in children up to the year

1. Divergence of the skull bones. Indicates an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid, and as a consequence, hydrocephalus.
2. Convex fontanel. Normally, the fontanel should not rise above the surface of the head.
3. The head circumference exceeds the norm. If the head circumference exceeds the circumference of the chest with age, it indirectly may indicate an increased ICP.
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4. The child is restless and cries much, especially in the evening. Venous outflow becomes slower because the child lies more and as a consequence, the outflow of liquor is disturbed.
5. Regurgitating the fountain. With increased intracranial pressure, the child is irritated by the centers in the brain that are responsible for nausea and vomiting.
6. Symptom Gref. It is also called the asymptom of the setting sun. If the work of the nerves responsible for eye movement is disrupted, the child periodically experiences uncontrolled movement, in which the eyes seem to roll down. Between the pupil and the upper eyelid, a white band becomes visible.
7. The child refuses to eat. During sucking, ICP rises, and painful sensations arise, from which the child stops eating and crying. As a consequence, he is gaining weight poorly.
8. Physical development disorders. The baby late starts to hold his head and turn over.
9. A child may lag behind in emotional and mental development. If the brain is damaged, the child does not react to the speech addressed to him, does not walk, does not follow the bright objects.

The above symptoms do not always indicate increased intracranial pressure. They should be considered in the aggregate and confirmed by special studies:

Indirect confirmation of the presence of increased intracranial pressure in a child can be confirmed by an ophthalmologist, since in this case the fundus changes, the optic nerve disc swells and arteries spasm arises.

Neurosonography. This ultrasound examination of the brain, which is carried through the fontanel. This method is used only in children under one year. With the help of neuronosonography, it is possible to detect deformity or change in ventricular size or an increase in the interhemispheric fissure.

2 Clinical picture in children older than 1 year

• Headache, which is located in the area behind the eye sockets. It can intensify by evening. This is due to the pressure of the liquor.
• Flashes before the eyes. This is due to irritation of the eye nerves.
• Nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief.
• The child becomes irritable, whiny.
• Sleep disorders.
• Doubling in the eyes.
• Disproportionate head enlargement.
• Rolling of the eyes.

Causes of intracranial pressure in children:

1. Neoplasms in the brain. The formation of additional tissue in the brain increases the pressure.
2. Meningitis. The outflow of liquor worsens, because its viscosity increases.
3. Hydrocephalus. Causes disturbance of outflow of liquor and its circulation is disturbed.
4. Craniocerebral injury. It can cause cerebral edema, so the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is impaired.
5. Early fusion of the bones of the skull, in which the brain continues to grow, the volume of CSF increases and ICP increases.
6. Intrauterine hypoxia.
7. Genetic abnormalities.

3 Treatment measures

In most cases, the symptoms of increased ICP in infants disappear until six months. But in the case of detected lesions of the brain, the neurologist prescribes treatment. The tactics of treatment depend on the severity of the disease.

Intracranial pressure in children: treatment with

• medications. Medications that improve cerebral circulation are prescribed: Cortexin, Actovegin, Somazina, Ceraxon, Pantogam, Cavinton, Cinnarizin.
• Assign diuretics that reduce intracranial pressure: Diacarb.
• In complex treatment, vitamins are prescribed: Glycine, Magne B6.
• Homeopathic remedies that help to remove the consequences of birth injuries: Traumeel.
• Preparations with a calming effect: Nervochel.
• Medications for normalizing sleep: Dormickind.

4 Surgical treatment

With a confirmed diagnosis, and violation of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, a surgical procedure is performed, in which a shunt is inserted into the trepanation hole, by which excess CSF is pumped out.

For neoplasms in the brain, an operation is performed to remove the tumor.

5 Day regimen

For children with elevated ICP, long walks in the fresh air are shown. We need the correct regime of the day and moderate physical activity. With the child it is necessary to be engaged in gymnastics, and to do to it a relaxing massage.

An excellent method for normalizing ICP is swimming. Also, before going to bed the child is recommended to bathe in the bath, which is added herbs calming the nervous system. Use in this case, lavender.

Children with elevated ICP should not be nervous. Therefore, parents should make every effort to ensure that the child feels well and grows up in a healthy atmosphere.

6 Possible consequences of

Very many mothers, firmly believe that increased intracranial pressure should not be treated, and medications only will harm the baby. But this is not always the right belief. In the absence of adequate treatment, the effect of elevated ICP can be:

• Epilepsy
• Visual impairment
• Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
• Mental disorder

Make the correct diagnosis and appoint an adequate treatment can only be an expert, so the newborn must be shown to the neurologist.

This must be done without fail, if pregnancy or childbirth were severe. In this case, it is necessary to carry out neuronosonography, in order to exclude pathology. Do not give up this procedure, because it is quite informative.

It is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations, even if it seems to you that nothing is wrong. Without medical education and work experience, it is impossible to correctly diagnose and determine the severity of the disease.

If the specialist has diagnosed, does not inspire confidence, you need to seek the advice of another doctor. If there is a suspicion of increased intracranial pressure, you need to see a neurologist.