Symptoms

The symptoms of congenital hydrocephalus usually are noticed at birth or within the first 9 months of life. Symptoms may not be as obvious in toddlers and older children. A baby may have:

• A large head that may get bigger very quickly. Usually a baby with congenital hydrocephalus will have a noticeably bigger head than other babies the same age.
• A slightly bulging soft spot (fontanelle) on top of the head that doesn't go away when the baby is held upright. A baby may also have larger-than-normal areas between the skull bones (sutures).
• A shiny scalp, with prominent blood vessels.
• A downward gaze and retracted eyelids, which reveal the whites of the eyes above the irises ("sun-setting of the eyes").

If pressure in the baby's head builds, symptoms will get worse and may include:

• Irritability.
• Excessive sleeping.
• Poor appetite and frequent vomiting.
• Inability to track you well with his or her eyes.
• High-pitched crying.

Other types of hydrocephalus may produce the same or similar symptoms at any age.