What are the symptoms of intracranial hypertension? Intracranial hypertension is a disease in the development of which increases intracranial pressure, in other words, it is increased intracranial pressure. There are several factors under the influence of which such a pathological condition may appear. It can be both a disease and brain injury, metabolic disorders, poisoning.
Disease symptoms
Symptoms of intracranial hypertension include:
- headaches;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- Violations in the functioning of the organs of vision.
There may be additional manifestations of the disease. The severity of symptoms of intracranial hypertension depends on the cause and severity of the disease. To identify the disease, it is necessary to carry out a thorough medical examination. In the process of treatment, both conservative and surgical methods are used. If one of the symptoms of intracranial hypertension appears, you need toSeek medical advice immediately as self-medication can lead to serious he alth problems.
International Classification of Diseases Code
Symptoms of intracranial hypertension (ICD-10 G93.2) include:
- migraine;
- feeling dizzy;
- vomit.
Additional symptoms may appear. It all depends on the severity of the pathology. Under such conditions, you should not take pills that are not recommended by a doctor.
The main symptoms of intracranial hypertension in children (ICD-10 code G93.6) are:
- cerebral edema;
- strong crying baby;
- impaired sucking reflex.
Under such conditions, it is important to carry out a thorough diagnosis of the crumbs and begin treatment.
The main causes of the development of the disease
The human brain is located in the cranial cavity, the dimensions of which cannot change. Inside the skull are located not only the brain tissue, but also the cerebrospinal substance and blood. Taken together, these structures occupy an appropriate volume.
Cerebrospinal fluid can be formed in the cavity of the ventricle of the brain. It flows along the cerebrospinal fluid to another part of the brain. Partially absorbed into the bloodstream and flows into the subarachnoid zone of the spinal cord.
Blood circulates through arterial and venous channels. If the volume of one of the fluids in the cranial cavity increases, the pressure inside the skull will also rise. In the event of disturbances in the circulation processcerebrospinal substance increases intracranial pressure. This phenomenon can occur in the event of an increase in production and a violation of its outflow. With stagnation of arterial blood, the process of blood circulation is disturbed. If swelling occurs due to the development of a tumor, then the volume of brain tissue increases.
As a conclusion, we can say that such a pathological condition can appear for several reasons. Only after a thorough medical examination, a specialist can identify the factor that influenced the development of the disease.
Among the main causes of intracranial hypertension are:
- traumatic brain injury - concussion, bruise, intracranial hematoma, birth injury;
- circulatory disorders - acute or chronic form (stroke, thrombosis);
- development of a tumor in the skull or its metastasis to other tissues;
- inflammatory process - with encephalitis, meningitis, abscess, intracranial pressure may increase;
- congenital anomaly of the brain vessels, skull;
- poisoning and metabolic disorder;
- pathologies of internal organs that disrupt blood circulation.
There are other reasons that may cause intracranial hypertension. Patients are often diagnosed with benign intracranial hypertension. With this diagnosis, pressure inside the skull appears for no apparent reason, so there is a favorable treatment prognosis. The main thing is to seek help from a qualified specialist in a timely manner.
Due to increased intracranial pressure, they are squeezednerve cells, which disrupts their functioning. Intracranial hypertension can manifest itself in the form of bursting diffuse headaches and unpleasant painful sensations in the head - felt at night or early in the morning, pain of a dull nature, which is accompanied by a feeling of pressure on the eyes from the inside.
How does the patient's well-being change in the process of pathology development?
The causes and symptoms of intracranial hypertension should be discussed with the doctor as it all depends on the individual patient. During coughing, sneezing, straining, physical exertion, soreness intensifies.
Additionally appears:
- Dizziness. If intracranial pressure rises slightly, then heaviness in the head, nausea and vomiting are felt. These symptoms may come on suddenly. Vomiting begins regardless of any external causes. Most often, the gag reflex occurs due to severe headaches. Such unpleasant symptoms are not associated with food intake. Vomiting can be strong and fountain-like. After it, the patient does not feel a sense of relief, the headache does not decrease.
- There is increased fatigue and weakness during mental or physical exertion. Under such conditions, unmotivated nervousness, emotional instability, irritability and tearfulness occur.
- Meteosensitivity is a common symptom of intracranial hypertension. In this case, the patient does not tolerate atmospheric pressure drop and the symptoms of the disease intensify.
- Vegetativeviolations. Manifested in the form of sweating, pressure drops, palpitations.
- Impaired vision - images are fuzzy and blurry. In the process of moving the eyeball, there is severe pain and discomfort.
The severity of symptoms of intracranial hypertension in adults depends on the severity of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient. In the process of development of the pathological condition, the phenomena of intracranial hypertension increase.
What complications can occur?
If effective therapy is not carried out in a timely manner, complications may occur, which manifest themselves as:
- stubborn, daily, morning vomiting against the background of severe headaches;
- during the day after vomiting, severe hiccups may occur, which causes severe discomfort and interferes with normal life;
- increasing depression of mental function - lethargy appears, there is a violation of consciousness, there is an increase in blood pressure;
- generalized convulsions appear.
If one of the symptoms of intracranial hypertension occurs in adults or children, it is important to immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital, as such signs indicate that a complication is developing that can be fatal.
Signs of the disease indicate that the phenomena of cerebral edema are growing. Under such conditions, infringement can occur, which often leads to the death of the patient. If not timelysee a doctor, the process of visual impairment is progressing.
First of all, the specialist should look at the fundus. In the fundus, with ophthalmoscopy, the doctor will reveal a congestive optic disc and its edema. Perhaps a small hemorrhage in this area. If such a phenomenon of intracranial hypertension exists for a long time, then the quality of vision is impaired, and the lenses do not help to solve the problem. Due to atrophy of the optic nerve, complete blindness often occurs.
In the process of developing intracranial hypertension, bone changes are formed. The plate of the skull bone can become thinner, and the back of the Turkish saddle can collapse. In the presence of phenomena of increased intracranial pressure, there may be no violations. Rarely, the doctor detects a limitation in the removal of the eyeball to the side, a change in the reflex, a violation of cognitive function. But such symptoms are not specific, that is, they cannot indicate a specific disease.
Doctors' recommendations
To accurately determine the presence of an ailment, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive examination of the entire body of the patient. At home, it is impossible to determine the presence or absence of the disease, so it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, treatment is much faster and more effective. In order to prevent surgical intervention, you should visit qualified medical workers in time and carry out diagnostics.
Diagnostic measures
If there is a suspicion ofincreased intracranial pressure, a number of additional examinations are needed. The standard collection of complaints, anamnesis and examination by a neurologist is not enough. First of all, you need to visit an optometrist. The doctor examines the fundus. Thanks to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, you can analyze the bone structure of the skull and assess its condition. Based on the diagnostic results obtained, it is possible to identify the cause of the increase in pressure inside the skull.
With the help of a spinal tap and a special device, the pressure was measured several years ago. Nowadays, doctors do not use this method of diagnosis, because they consider it inappropriate.
When the doctor diagnoses the patient, treatment can begin. Based on the results of the study, taking into account the individual and physiological characteristics of the patient's body, the doctor prescribes a drug that will help normalize the pressure inside the skull. In frequent cases, intracranial hypertension is not an independent disease. Such a pathological condition develops due to another advanced disease. First of all, the treatment of the main disease should be started. If a doctor has discovered a neoplasm in the brain or an intracranial hematoma in a patient, then it is important to carry out surgical treatment.
Due to the removal of tumors or excess fluid, the general well-being of the patient improves and intracranial pressure normalizes. Under such conditions, you can do without any accompanying activities.
If intracranial pressure increased byreason for the development of encephalitis and meningitis, then you need to take antibiotics. With mechanical extraction of the cerebrospinal substance, intracranial pressure decreases.
Medications that reduce intracranial pressure can improve the overall well-being of the patient. It is with this group of drugs that the therapy of benign intracranial hypertension begins.
Essence of treatment
In neurology, the symptom of intracranial hypertension occurs in both children and adults. With such a diagnosis, it is not recommended to take Furosemide for a long time, since such a drug affects the functioning of other internal organs and can provoke the development of side effects. In the process of treatment with Furosemide, it is necessary to additionally take a potassium preparation. The doctor prescribes the medicine "Diakarb" with various schemes. As medical practice shows, experts recommend taking Diakarb in courses of 5 days, followed by a break of 3 days. Thanks to this medicine, you can remove excess fluid from the skull area and reduce the production of cerebrospinal substance, thereby lowering intracranial pressure.
In addition to the drug therapy, the doctor prescribes a special drinking regimen for the patient (no more than 1.3 liters per day), which reduces the amount of liquid substance entering the brain. With the help of acupuncture, manual therapy and exercise therapy, you can improve the overall he alth of the patient and speed up the healing process. In some cases, resort tosurgical method of treatment. The specialist determines the type of surgical operation depending on the specific clinical picture of the patient.
Only a doctor should prescribe treatment for intracranial hypertension in adults. Symptoms of pathology at an early stage of development may be absent, so it is advisable to regularly undergo an examination with a doctor. Most often, with this diagnosis, shunting is performed.
In the event that the disease is too advanced and the pressure inside the skull increases intensively, there is a threat to the patient's life. Under such conditions, it is important to provide emergency assistance. It is necessary to inject a hyperosmolar solution intravenously. Urgent intubation and artificial ventilation of the respiratory system is carried out. The patient is put into a medically induced coma. Thanks to ventriculopuncture, excess CSF is removed. In rare cases, decompressive craniotomy is performed. In the process of such manipulation, a skull defect is created on one side so that the brain does not "rest" against the skull bones.
The prognosis of such treatment directly depends on the severity of the disease, the general he alth of the patient and the experience of the doctor, so it is important not to go to dubious clinics in order to carry out therapy. This disease is very dangerous because it can progress and turn into severe forms, which often leads to death.
Disease in children
There are several symptoms of intracranial hypertension in a child. These include:
- Sucking activity decreases.
- Significantly increased circumferenceheads.
- The fontanel is tense and bulging.
- The vein in the head area is too dilated.
- There is increased muscle tone.
- Gref's syndrome appeared.
- There is a convulsive manifestation.
- Cranial sutures are coming apart.
- Baby crying loudly is a common symptom of intracranial hypertension in infants.
- Gag reflex occurs.
Don't panic if your baby burps a lot. In frequent cases, such a symptom does not indicate that the disease is developing. If the baby is overfed, then such a phenomenon may occur. With a systematic manifestation of symptoms, a thorough examination by a pediatrician should be carried out. When one of the symptoms of intracranial hypertension appears in a child, it is important to urgently call an ambulance or go to the hospital, because babies are too vulnerable to any diseases. Under these conditions, self-medication is strictly prohibited.
What causes intracranial hypertension in babies?
There are several reasons why children get sick. These include:
- active cerebrospinal fluid secretion;
- poorly absorbed cerebrospinal fluid;
- circulation in the CSF pathways was disturbed.
There are several factors that can cause symptoms of intracranial hypertension in infants:
- head injury;
- meningitis and encephalitis;
- drug poisoning;
- anomaly in developmentbrain;
- cerebral hemorrhage;
- tumor and so on.
Increased intracranial pressure in a baby for several reasons, namely:
- development of complications during the period of bearing a baby;
- prematurity;
- development of intrauterine infection and neuroinfection;
- congenital malformations of the brain.
Symptoms and treatment of intracranial hypertension in children is a topic that should be discussed with a pediatrician. If one of the signs of the disease appears, it is important to carry out ultrasound, echoencephalography, computed tomography. Based on the diagnostic results obtained, the doctor will prescribe a therapy that will help cure the disease. The choice of treatment method depends on the specific clinical picture.
Treatment of an illness in a child
Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor prescribes a specific method of therapy. In frequent cases, treatment is carried out by a medical method, and physiotherapy and massage cannot be dispensed with. The procedures will improve the well-being of the child. Symptoms and treatment of intracranial hypertension in children is something that worries many parents.
If necessary, surgeons perform a surgical operation during which a shunt is placed. Excess liquid is removed through such a device. A shunt can be installed both for life and for the duration of surgery. If therapy is carried out in a timely manner, then after the operation, the child's he alth is restored.
Often occurs with intracranial hypertension, a symptom of a mental disorder due to a deterioration in general well-beingsick. Under such conditions, consultation of several specialists is needed.
