Intracranial pressure in infants

Many parents face such a problem as intracranial pressure in infants (ICPs). In our country every second mother, trusting children's neuropathologists, believes that her child has an increased. Nevertheless, abroad, such a diagnosis is made much less often. This is explained by the fact that:

Firstly, the rate of intracranial pressure in infants is not reliably established. According to different medical scientists, it can be 80/140 mm of water column, and 60/200 in the same units of measurement.
Secondly, the above norms are established for newborns who are in a horizontal position and are at rest. However, infants at a doctor's appointment are often restless, which makes the measurement inaccurate.
Third, despite all the progress in medicine, no device for measuring the pressure inside the baby's head has yet been invented. The only reliable way to measure it is to insert a needle into the ventricles of the brain or into the spinal canal for the subsequent measurement of the fluid pressure using a manometer. The exception is children who do not have a fontanelle, which makes it possible to use the ultrasound diagnostic technique to determine ICP.

Thus, often the setting of this diagnosis only on the basis of the history of the anamnesis is incorrect and inaccurate. However, if the diagnosis is unequivocal, then parents should be attentive to their baby.

Symptoms of intracranial pressure in infants

Most of the symptoms of ICP occur not only in patients, but also in healthy children. Such manifestations include:

anxiety;
trembling handles and legs of the baby;
frequent screams;
strabismus (although infantile strabismus is considered a physiological phenomenon);
protrusion of a large fontanel;
a symptom of bulging of the eyes;
unusually fast head growth;
divergence of the seams of the skull;
muscular hypertonia ;
spontaneous dilution of the handles followed by their folding on the chest.

If several symptoms are observed simultaneously, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Causes of intracranial pressure in infants

Increased intracranial pressure in the infants occurs due to an excess of cerebrospinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid circulating in the spinal cord and brain. Liquor creates excessive pressure on the brain, which can be dangerous to the health of the baby. ICP often occurs after difficult births (cordations by the umbilical cord, prolonged labor) and complicated pregnancy (toxicosis, hypoxia, placental abruption ).

It is important to know that ICP is not a disease, but an ordinary symptom that indicates the presence of certain diseases. It can be hydrocephalus (compression of the brain by fluid accumulating in the cranium and not flowing in the right volume), meningitis, brain tumor, head injury.

Treatment of intracranial pressure in infants

At present, doctors are trying not to use medicines to treat elevated ICP. The approach of providing natural rehabilitation is practiced. To do this, mothers are recommended as long as possible to feed the baby with the breast, to closely interact emotionally with the child, to observe the mode of sleep and wakefulness, to walk more in the open air.

In some cases diuretics (diuretics), sedatives, vitamins, as well as vascular drugs, which improve the blood circulation of the brain, are still used. Many babies are recommended general restorative massage, acupuncture and swimming. When the increase in ICP is due to violations of anatomy, children can be operated on to restore the outflow of liquor.