Intracranial pressure

Intracranial pressure or ICP is the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the tissues and cavities of the brain. With this pressure, the brain is in a compressed position, which can cause problems with its functioning.

Symptoms of intracranial hypertension In many cases, patients with ICP may experience headaches, which are most often concentrated in the back of the head. But sometimes the pain can also radiate to the shoulders or back. In some cases, nausea and vomiting, severe dizziness, and visual disturbances may occur. In addition, a person may feel weak and irritable, there is tinnitus and a deterioration in general health. In the initial stages of ICP, patients complain of nausea and vomiting. It is important to understand that such a phenomenon as intracranial hypertension in childhood is distinguished by the fact that children are not able to describe what bothers them and makes them cry without stopping. Parents should pay attention to such symptoms and immediately seek medical help. Also, the baby may hold his head unnaturally straight, and there is a disturbance in sucking. Such patients experience increased tearfulness, some developmental delay, sometimes hypertonicity of the limbs, and loss of appetite. Over time, they develop nervousness, drowsiness, and irritability. Children may begin to refuse food, which leads to overall weight loss. The heart may work harder because the pressure in the ventricles increases. Often the child turns his head violently, which indicates a circulatory disorder. If pressure levels in the brain remain at 25–35 mm Hg for a long time. Art., pathologies of the respiratory system may develop, and cyanosis of the skin and face may appear.