Hydrocephalus, brain cysts

Hydrocephalus of the brain is a neurological disease caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system of the brain. As a rule, hydrocephalus is considered a disease of childhood, although the disease can also be detected in patients over 18 years of age.

Symptoms

The most common signs of the disease are headache, nausea and vomiting, vision problems (inability to focus on a certain object, double vision, blurred boundaries), changes in the position of the eyeballs (they seem to be shifted downwards, the pupil also “sinks” a little, creating the effect of “rolling eyes”), problems with the vestibular apparatus (impaired coordination in space, unsteadiness and uncertainty of gait), clumsiness, lack of strength, memory loss, confusion, urinary incontinence, excessive nervousness, irritability, and sometimes drowsiness. The dominance of certain signs depends on the cause of the disease. For example, in elderly people, normotensive hydrocephalus is observed, caused by age-related changes in the body. This condition is expressed, first of all, in impaired coordination of movements, the occurrence of forgetfulness, slowness in mental operations, a slow reaction to stimuli. One of the clear signs of hydrocephalus in adults is mental deviations. They can manifest themselves in the form of emotional stupor, epileptic seizures, apathy, depression, hallucinations, mania, delirium.

A cyst is a hollow formation, usually filled with liquid. They form in any organ of the human body, including the brain.

Symptoms

This condition can be completely asymptomatic. There are general symptoms of a brain cyst - a feeling of pulsation and pressure in the head, tinnitus, flickering spots before the eyes, seizures, loss of sensitivity of body parts, partial transient paralysis, headaches, hallucinations and loss of consciousness. Local symptoms of a brain cyst depend on the area in which it is located. For example, imbalance is typical for cerebellar cysts.

Classification and causes

There are two types of brain cysts, they have different locations:

• Arachnoid cysts are formed between the membranes of the brain as a result of inflammation, trauma or subarachnoid hematoma;
• Intracerebral cavities - the result of replacing dead brain tissue, in this case the causes can also be trauma, inflammation, as well as operations and hemorrhages.