Let us give the signs of hydrocephalus. Though they are very much depending on age of a child there are some common signs.

There is a classification of types of hydrocephalus

  • Non-communicating/obstructive
  • Communicating

Infants and babies under the age of 1 year will appear to have significant swelling of the head. Their skull bones — thin, bony plates that have not yet fused together — are connected by fibrous tissue called sutures. These sutures, or “soft spots,” have not yet hardened and therefore stretch and protrude to accommodate the excess CSF.

As a result, a baby with hydrocephalus will appear to have an abnormally shaped head — usually much larger than other babies the same age. Other signs to look for include:

  • bulging at the soft spots;
  • “split” sutures — a gap can be felt between skull bones;
  • rapid increase in head circumference or head circumference is in the 98th percentile for the age or greater;
  • swollen veins that are recognizable to the naked eye;
  • downward cast of the eyes (called “sunsetting”);
  • Macewen’s sign (a “cracked pot” sound on percussing the head).

Depending on the severity of the condition, kids may also experience sleepiness, irritability, vomiting, and seizures. In extreme cases, a child may also experience “failure to thrive” meaning that he or she might miss growth or developmental milestones or may revert to earlier developmental stages.