Neurosurgery, by video or in person
Hydrocephalus
The signs, the danger signs that mean hospital now, and how to see a doctor by video from anywhere in Nigeria.
Signs to look for
Hydrocephalus
- In a baby: a head that is unusually large or growing fast
- In a baby: a tense or bulging soft spot on top of the head, and eyes that look downwards
- Poor feeding, vomiting, irritability or unusual sleepiness
- In older children and adults: headache, being sick and blurred vision
- Difficulty walking, and in older adults, memory problems and loss of bladder control
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid inside the brain. The fluid normally flows around the brain and spinal cord and is absorbed, but when its flow is blocked or it is not absorbed, it collects and raises the pressure on the brain. Babies can be born with it, sometimes alongside spina bifida, and children and adults can develop it after bleeding in the brain, meningitis, a head injury or a tumour. Left untreated it can be fatal. The main treatment is a shunt, a thin tube that drains the fluid to the tummy, and some people can have an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) instead.
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- In a baby: a head that is unusually large or growing fast
- In a baby: a tense or bulging soft spot on top of the head, and eyes that look downwards
- Poor feeding, vomiting, irritability or unusual sleepiness
- In older children and adults: headache, being sick and blurred vision
- Difficulty walking, and in older adults, memory problems and loss of bladder control
- Fits
When to See a Doctor
Go to a hospital now if a baby has a bulging soft spot with vomiting, drowsiness or a fit, or if anyone with a shunt has a headache with vomiting, is unusually drowsy, has a fit, or has a fever with redness along the shunt. These can mean the pressure is rising or the shunt has blocked or become infected. See a doctor soon if a baby's head seems larger than expected or is growing fast, or if an older adult has new trouble walking, memory problems and bladder leakage together.
Treatment options
- A head scan: ultrasound in a baby, CT or MRI in older children and adults
- A VP shunt, a thin tube that drains the fluid from the brain to the tummy
- Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), an opening made inside the brain so the fluid can drain, for some causes
- Treating the cause, such as a tumour or an infection
- Lifelong follow-up and a plan for what to do if a shunt fails
What it costs on Mezo
Starting cash prices for the treatments used for this condition.
Common Questions
Can hydrocephalus be cured?
It can usually be controlled well with a shunt or an ETV, and many children and adults live full lives. The shunt itself needs lifelong care, because it can block or become infected.
My baby's head looks big. Is it hydrocephalus?
Not always. Many babies have a large head that runs in the family and is healthy. A doctor measures the head and plots its growth, and a scan is arranged if it is growing too fast or there are other signs.
Can a paediatrician help by video?
A video call is a reasonable first step for a worry about head size or development: the doctor takes a history and tells you whether your child needs to be examined and scanned. A baby who is vomiting, very sleepy or having fits needs a hospital, not a call.
Need Help?
A children's doctor on a video call, who tells you whether your child needs to be examined in person.
See a paediatrician by videoIf any of the danger signs on this page applies, go to the nearest hospital now instead.
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The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Hydrocephalus. NHS. Patient information.
- Hydrocephalus: symptoms. NHS. Patient information.
- Hydrocephalus: complications. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 3 November 2026.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.