Symptoms of Hydrocephalus: Common Warning Signs of an Issue

In an infant (0-1 years old)

Sunsetting eyes

Irritability

Projectile vomiting

Seizures

Lethargy

Bulging head, and rapid increase in circumference

In a toddler (1-3 years old)

Projectile vomiting

Position headaches

Lethargy

Short, high-pitched cries

Personality changes (aggressiveness in a normally gentle child, for example)

Changes in facial structure

Crossed eyes

Problems with concentrating, eating, sleeping, or bowel movements

Muscle spasms

In a child and teenager (4-19 years old)

Personality changes

Difficulty with sleeping, eating, bowel movements

Lethargy

Position headaches

Projectile vomiting

Irritability

Sudden drops in cognitive function (grades slipping, sudden difficulty staying focused, etc.)

In an adult (20-65)

Loss of coordination

Chronic position headaches

Difficulty walking

Difficulty with bowel movements📷

Vision and memory problems

Difficulty concentrating

In a senior (65+) with NPH [Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus]

Shuffling gait

Sudden loss of bladder control

Sudden difficulty with memory

Headaches