Is the intracranial pressure of a child dangerous?

1 Causes and consequences of

The intracranial pressure is not constant. It can vary depending on many factors. To lead to a temporary increase in ICP can excessive physical activity of the child or emotional load, to such a jump lead and recently transferred viral infections, change in weather conditions, elevated body temperature. A short-term change in intracranial pressure is not a sign of serious pathology.

If the pressure increase is permanent and worries the baby for a long time, you need to see a doctor and prompt treatment. Causing a persistent increase in intracranial pressure in a child may have the following diseases:

• brain tumors - benign or malignant formations create additional pressure on brain tissue;
• meningitis leads to excessive formation of cerebrospinal fluid and obstructing its outflow;
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• encephalitis causes swelling and inflammation of the brain, which leads to an increase in ICP;
• craniocerebral trauma is accompanied by cerebral edema and leads to intracranial hypertension;
• hydrocephalus - may be a congenital or acquired disease characterized by a large accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid due to difficulty in its outflow.

Elevated intracranial pressure in infants may be due to acute hypoxia during mother's pregnancy or during childbirth. Oxygen starvation of the fetus during pregnancy leads to excess fluid production. After childbirth, as a rule, the condition stabilizes, and over time, the pressure returns to normal. Intracranial hypertension in the baby can cause birth trauma or intrauterine infection.

Whatever the cause of the constant high blood pressure, timely treatment and consultation of a doctor are necessary, since the child is suffering this condition. A kid can be hyperactive, overexcited, very emotionally responsive to everything. The child can sleep badly at night and quickly get tired during the day. He can lag behind in physical and mental development from peers. If you do not diagnose the cause of high ICP in time, eventually it can develop into a vegetative dystonia, which will progress in adolescence. Untreated ICP can have consequences even in adulthood. People who have suffered from this syndrome in childhood can be troubled by headaches, weakness, fatigue. Reduced concentrations, poor memory, dizziness and meteorology can be the consequences of intracranial hypertension.

2 Symptoms and methods for diagnosing elevated ICP

Symptoms of intracranial pressure, depending on the age of the child, may vary significantly. This is explained by the fact that the child has not completely grown bone to the skull for a year before the year, there are so-called "fontanelles".So, the parents of the baby are pricked up if the following symptoms appear:

1. Severe restlessness at night: the child loudly cries for no reason, can not calm down for a long time, while behaving quite normally during the day. This may be due to the fact that in the horizontal position intracranial pressure is increased even more due to a decrease in venous outflow.
2. Sleep disorder: the baby sleeps very badly, often wakes up, can not fall asleep for a long time. These signs may be the cause of increased blood pressure.
3. Constant regurgitation. Excess volume of cerebrospinal fluid puts pressure on the centers of the medulla oblongata. These centers are responsible for vomiting and nausea. In the infant, it can manifest itself in the form of frequent and profuse regurgitation. It should be noted that increased intracranial pressure is not the only cause of this symptom. The child can overeat or with food to swallow the air. Therefore, this symptom should be considered in conjunction with the remaining symptoms of ICP.
4. Disproportionate head size. A large amount of fluid causes deformation of the skull. The child significantly increases the frontal part."Rodnichki" in this case also greatly increase and swell.
5. The subcutaneous veins on the head are clearly visible. Increased ICP leads to a deterioration in the outflow of venous blood. On the head of the baby is clearly visible overcrowded venous network.

In addition, breastfeeding and bottles can be a symptom in infants, as sucking further increases the pressure, causing painful sensations. The consequence of this is weight loss, development delay. Separately, it is necessary to mention the Gref symptom, called "the symptom of the setting sun".It appears that when a child moves his eyes downward, a white band is visible between the iris and the upper eyelid. If one of the above signs is added to the Gref symptom, it is not necessary to postpone the trip to a specialist.

Older children can already complain of pain and tell about their feelings. To pay attention to the following symptoms:

• headache, which is worse at night;
• sleep disturbance;
• pressure and pain in the field of eyeballs;
• vomiting and nausea;
• double vision;
• increased fatigue and irritability.

Having noticed the first signs of increased intracranial pressure, you should immediately contact a neurologist who can explain how to determine this condition. The doctor will conduct an examination and, if necessary, will prescribe additional diagnostic procedures. In order to detect elevated blood pressure, a whole range of measures is used, which includes medical examination, the use of special apparatus and puncture.

For timely and accurate diagnosis of ICP, an examination is required for the following specialists:

• neurologist - he conducts a survey of the head and "fontanel" of the child, checks reflexes, studies information about the baby's day regimen, finds out the behavior of the mother;
• ophthalmologist - examines the fundus, vessels and optic nerve disk, as with increased intracranial pressure, significant changes will be seen.

3 What else is applicable?

In addition to confirming the diagnosis, modern research methods using special techniques are used:

1. Neurosonography is an ultrasound study of the brain through an open large fontanel.
2. Computed tomography.
3. Magnetic resonance imaging.
4. Dopplerography - used for the study of blood vessels and determination of blood flow velocity.
5. Radiography of the skull.
6. Echoencephalography is the study of a number of parameters of the brain with the help of a special apparatus.

These methods provide indirect data on ICP.Precisely to measure intracranial pressure it is possible only by introduction of the gauge in a spinal canal or a skull. Give a detailed consultation on how to measure intracranial pressure, can the doctor when examined. A lumbar puncture can also be done directly for examination of the CSF, which allows taking a part of the liquid for analysis.

A comprehensive brain study can detect increased intracranial pressure in a baby and prescribe a treatment.

4 The basic methods of treatment of

Most parents, after discovering in the child some signs of ICP, immediately begin to look for information on how to treat this condition. It should be remembered that the treatment with intracranial hypertension is prescribed only by a doctor( after careful study).Depending on the cause of the increase in pressure, various treatment methods can be prescribed.

If the child is worried about intracranial pressure without a significant increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid, this condition can be corrected without the use of medication. Typically, for the normalization of pressure, the following measures are prescribed:

• compliance with the day regimen;
• long walks in the fresh air;
• swimming;
• moderate physical activity;
• proper nutrition.

In the absence of serious pathologies such treatment gives very good results. Massage, physiotherapy exercises, as well as physiotherapy procedures enhance the positive effect and help to normalize the child's condition faster.

Symptoms and treatment of intracranial pressure are closely related.

Depending on the disease causing ICP, anti-inflammatory and antitumor drugs, as well as antibiotics, can be prescribed. With excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the child is prescribed drugs that promote the outflow of fluids. Diuretics are usually used for these purposes. Diuretics allow you to remove excess fluid from the body and improve the outflow of liquor. Such drugs only alleviate the symptoms without affecting the underlying cause of intracranial pressure. To ease the condition and remove acute symptoms, the following types of medicines may additionally be prescribed:

1. Painkillers. Increased intracranial pressure can cause severe headaches, to eliminate them use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, individually choosing a dose.
2. Nootropic drugs - these drugs improve the blood circulation of the brain, contribute to the outflow of the cerebrospinal fluid.
3. Remedies that calm the nervous system and improve sleep.
4. Vitamins.

In addition, other medicines, homeopathic medicines and herbal preparations can be prescribed.

In case of detection of a tumor or anatomical pathology, surgical intervention is possible in the study of intracranial pressure. By hydrocephalus, shunting is used. To remove excess cerebrospinal fluid, a shunt is installed. It allows you to periodically remove the accumulated cerebrospinal fluid, thereby reducing the pressure.

Given all of the above, it is possible to formulate some recommendations to the parents of a child with increased intracranial pressure:

1. Do not take this condition as incurable. With timely and correct treatment, complete disposal of ICP is possible without any consequences.
2. If symptoms of high blood pressure occur, consult a doctor. Only an expert, after conducting a comprehensive diagnosis, will be able to diagnose and explain how to treat this condition.

5 Conclusion on

And remember that during the treatment of ICP, all the prescriptions of the doctor should be observed. Only an integrated, serious approach to treatment, compliance with all recommendations and the implementation of prescribed procedures will help get rid of the problem.